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HISTORY 



OF 



THE LATE WAR 



BETWEEN THE 



UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN 



COMPRISING A 



MINUTE ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS 

MILITARY AND NAVAL OPERATIONS. 




Commodore Porter, the Hero of the Pacific. — Page 213. 



BY H} M. BRACKENRIDGE. 



PHILADELPHIA : 

JAMES KAY, JUN.ife BROTHER, 183 J MARKET STREET. 

PITTSBURGH: — C. H. KAY. 

1846. 



Entered accrwding.to the act of congress, in the year 1839, by James Kay, Jun. & 
Brother, :n thi clerk's office of the district court of the United States in and for the 
eastern distric", of Pennsylvania. 



. ./ 



Printed and Bound by 

JAMES KAY, JtJlV. & BROTHER, 

Philadelphi*. 



(*) 



PREFACE. 

The work here presented to the public, after passing through five 
.arge editions, had been for years entirely out of circulation, when 
the Publishers, urged by its continued popularity, prevailed on the 
Author to prepare it for a sixth edition. This last impression having 
gone off with remarkable rapidity, the Publishers have now stereo- 
typed the work, after again submitting it to the ordeal of a careful 
and scrutinizing revision. 

As to the merit of the work, the reader must judge for himself. 
Its general accuracy has received the approbation of those most 
capable of judging. It has been translated into Italian, by a writer 
of eminence ; and also into French, by the celebrated M. Dalmas, 
who speaks in high terms of the energy of the style, and the clear- 
ness of the narrative. 

The design of the work was not a history of the times, embracing 
the legislative, diplomatic and statistical subjects connected with the 
war. These are glanced at. But it was the intention of the Author 
to bring within one narrative, as far as it was practicable, all the 
campaigns, battles, skirmishes and incidents wliich may properly be 
considered as constituting the Events of the War. 

It was difficult, if not impossible, to weave all these materials into 
one connected story, especially when we consider that the war was 
carried on simultaneously at so many points having no connection 
with each other. There was the war of the south, that of the north- 
west, that on the Niagara, that along the seabord at various points ; 
and there was the maritime contest, which was entirely distinct from 
that along the coast. On the Niagara frontier there was much hard 
fighting; but every campaign opened under a new general, and 
sometimes before its close that general was superseded. After the 
fall of general Pike, the war in that quarter was carried on without 
any settled plan ; and ended without accomplishing any one of its 
objects. It served, however, to afford opportunity to a number of 
officers to distinguish themselves for their military talents and intre- 
pidity : among these, generals Brown, Scott, Jesup, Miller, Rip- 
ley, TowsoN are deservedly eminent. To the Northwest our mili- 
tary affairs were conducted on a systematic plan, and under a com- 
mander who was completely successful in what he undertook : in the 
South, the war was also confided to a single individual, who was 
found abundantly competent to the duties assigned him. Harrison 
and Jackson therefore are the only generals who can be said to have 
conducted entire plans of operation to a successful issue ; and their 
names are decidedly the most conspicuous in the History of the 
War. 

Philadelphia, January 1839. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page 

BATTLE OF THE CONSTITUTION AND GUERRIERE — 

COMMODORE HULL 47 

BATTLE OF THE WASP AND FROLIC — COMMODORE 

JONES 51 

TAKING OF YORK, AND DEATH OF GENERAL PIKE . . 103 

GALLANT DEFENCE OF FORT SANDUSKY, BY MAJOR 

CROGHAN 150 

BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE — COMMODORE PERRY 155 

BATTLE OF THE THAMES, AND DEATH OF TECUM- 

SEH— GENERAL HARRISON 161 

COMMODORE PORTER, THE HERO OF THE PACIFIC — 

Vignette 313 

BATTLE OF THE CONSTITUTION WITH THE CYANE 

AND LEVANT — COMMODORE STEWART 223 

BOMBARDMENT OF FORT M'HENRY — MAJOR ARMI- 

STEAD 271 

BATTLES OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN, AND PLATTSBURGH 
— COMMODORE M'DONOUGH, AND GENERAL MA- 
COMB 279 

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS — GENERAL JACKSON— 

Frontispiece 294 

6 



CONTENTS. 



Causes of the War wiln Great Britain. 13 

Rule of 1756 14 

Impressment of American Seamen. . . .15 

Attack on the Chesapeake 19 

Differences with France 21 

French Decrees 21 



CHAPTER I. 

Non-Intercourse 22 

Indian Hostilities 23 

Tecumseh 23 

General Harrison 24 

Battle of Tippecanoe 24 

Honours paid to General Harrison 26 



Embargo 22 War with Great Britain inevitable 27 



CHAPTER II. 



Declaration of War by the U. States. .28 

General Hull reaches Detroit 31 

He crosses into Canada 32 

Successful Skirmishes on the River 
Aux Canards 33 



Taking of Michilimackinac 34 

Battle of Brownstown 35 

Battle of Magagua 36 

Taking of Chicago 37 

Surrender of General Hull 38 



CHAPTER III. 

Naval Events 43 Cruise of the Argus 50 

Cruise of Commodore Rodgers 43 The United States captures the Mace- 



The President chases the Belvidera 44 

Cruise of Captain Hull 44 

The Constitution captures theGuerriere45 
Commodore Porter captures the Alert. .49 
Cruise of the President and Congress. .50 



donian 51 

The Wasp captures the Frolic 51 

Exploits of American Privateers 53 

Results of the Naval Warfare 54 

Sensations excited in England 55 



CHAPTER IV. 



Military Enthusiasm in the West 56 

General Harrison takes command of 
the Northwestern Army 57 

The Army advances under General 
Winchester 58 

Expedition to the Rapids under Gene- 
ral Tupper 59 

Failure of the Expedition to the 
Rapids 60 



Second Expedition to the Rapids un- 
der General Tupper 61 

Foray under General Hopkins 62 

Second Expedition under General 

Hopkins 63 

Defence of Fort Harrison 64 

Expedition under Colonel Russell 65 

Expedition under Colonel Campbell . ..65 
Security of the Frontier established... 66 



CHAPTER V. 

Troops on the Canada Frontier 66 Abortive attempt of General Smyth. .73 

Capture of the Caledonia 67 Northern Army 75 

Battle of Queenstown 68 Incursion of Forsythe— of Colonel Pike 76 

Death of General Brock 70 War on the Lakes 77 

British bombard Fort Niagara 72 First Cruise of Commodore Chauncey . .77 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Meeting of Congress 78 

Proposal of an Armistice 7D 

Reverses of Napoleon 80 

Measures for carrying on the War 81 

Blockade of our Coasts 81 



War with the Southern Indians 82 

Tecumseh's Visit to the Creeks 83 

War with the Seminoles 84 

Third British Frigate taken— the Java. 86 
Disasters of our Arms to the West ... .88 



CHAPTER VII. 



General Harrison returns to Ohio 88 

General Winchester sends a Detach- 
ment to the relief of Frenchtown. .89 

Defeat of the British and Indians 90 

Winchester arrives with Reinforce- 
ments 90 

Defeat and Surrender of the Ameri- 
cans at the River Raisin 91 



Cruelty of the British and Indians 92 

Humanity of the People of Detroit 95 

March of General Harrison 96 

Siege of Fort Meigs 97 

Defeat of Colonel Dudley 99 

Sortie under Colonel Miller 99 

Siege of Fort Meigs raised 100 

Exploit of Major Ball 102 



CHAPTER VIII. 



British Preparations in Canada 102 

Incursion of Forsy the 103 

Attack on Ogdensburgh 103 

General Pike 104 

Taking of York 105 

Explosion of a Magazine 109 

Death of General Pike 109 

Taking of Forts George and Erie . . . .112 

Battle of Stony Creek 116 

Capture of Generals Chandler and 

Winder 118 

British attack Sackett's Harbour 120 



Repulsed by General Brown 121 

Resignation of General Dearborne . ..123 

Town of Sodus attacked 123 

Affair at Beaver Dams 123 

Lieutenant Eldridge 124 

Indians enter the American Service. .124 

British attack Black Rock 124 

Second Taking of York 125 

British devastate the Borders of Lake 

Champlain 125 

Cruise of Commodore Chauncey on 

Lake Ontario 126 



CHAPTER IX. 



War on the Coast 127 

British attack Lewistown 128 

Gun-Boats attack some British Ves- 
sels of War 129 

Exploits of Admiral Cockburn 129 

Attack on Frenchtown 130 

Plundering and Burning of Havre de 

Grace 130 

Plundering and Burning of George- 
town and Fredcricktown 132 

Arrival of Admiral Warren and Sir 
Sydney Beckwith 132 



Southern Cities threatened 133 

Attack on Craney Island— gallantly 

repulsed 133 

Hampton assaulted and plundered. .. .135 

Enormities committed there 135 

Correspondence between General 

Taylor and Sir Sydney Beckwith. 130 
Cockburn plunders the Coast of North 

Carolina 137 

Blockade of the American Squadron at 

New London by Commodore Hardy 138 
Torpedo System 138 



CHAPTER X. 



Naval Affairs 139 

The Hornet captures the Peacock . . . .140 
Humane and generous Conduct of 
Captain Lawrence, and the Crew 
of the Hornet 141 



Captain Lawrence appointed to the 
Chesapeake 141 

The Shannon challenges the Chesa- 
peake 142 

The Shannon captures the Chesapeake 143 



CONTENTS. 



9 



Death of Captain Lawrence 143 

The Pelican captures the Argus 145 

Cruise of Commodore Porter in the 

Soutli Seas 146 

The Enterprize captures the Boxer. . .146 
Cruise of Commodore Rodgers 147 



Cruise of the Congress 147 

Gallant Conduct of American Priva- 
teers— of the Comet — of the Gene- 
ral Armstrong 147 

The Privateer Decatur captures the 
Dominica 148 



CHAPTER XI. 



Affairs of the West 149 

Patriotic Enthusiasm of Ohio and 

Kentucky 149 

Governor Shelby 150 

Character of the Kentuckians 150 

Gallant Defence of Fort Sandusky by 

Major Croghan 151 

Humane Conduct of the Besieged 152 

Tecumseh raises the Siege of Fort 

Meigs 153 

Naval Preparations on Lake Erie 153 

Commodore Perry sails with his Fleet 

in quest of the Enemy 153 

Battle of Lake Erie 154 

Gallant Behaviour of Perry 154 

Capture of the Enemy's Squadron. .. .157 



" We have met the Enemy, and they 

are ours" 157 

Northwestern Army reinforced 158 

Capture of Maiden 158 

Skirmish at Chatham 158 

Battle of the Thames 159 

Capture of the British Regulars 160 

Colonel Johnson wounded 160 

Death of Tecumseh 160 

Character of Tecumseh 163 

Escape of General Proctor 164 

Public Testimonials of Respect to 

General Harrison 164 

Generous Treatment of the British 

Prisoners— of the Savages 165 

Interesting Correspondence 165 



CHAPTER XII. 



Preparations for invading Canada 166 

General Armstrong appointed Secre- 
tary of War 167 

General Wilkinson appointed Com- 
mander-in-Chief 167 

General Hampton takes command of 

the Army of the North 168 

Rendezvous of the American Forces 

at Grenadier Island 168 

General Wilkinson descends the St. 

Lawrence 169 

British harass the American Army. ..170 

Battle of Chrystler's Field 172 

General Hampton descends the Cha- 
teaugay River 174 



Is attacked by the British, and retreats 174 
His Inability or Unwillingness to co- 
operate with General Wilkinson. 175 
Both American Armies go into Win- 
ter Quarters 175 

Failure of the Canadian Expedition.. 175 
Cruise of Commodore Chauncey on 

Lake Ontario 176 

He captures five British armed 

Schooners 1 77 

Burning of Newark by the Americans. 178 

British Retaliation 178 

Fort Niagara surprised 179 

Destruction of Lewistown, Buffalo, 
and other places 179 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Meeting of Congress 180 

Violence of Party Spirit 180 

Lukewarm Deportment of the New 

England States 181 

Measures for carrying on the War. . . .182 

Recourse to Taxation 182 

Adoption of means for recruiting the 

Army 183 

Interesting case of twenty-three 

American Prisoners 183 



Arrogance of the British Government. 184 
Debates in Congress on the subject. ..184 

Result of the Debates 185 

Inquiry by Congress into the manner 
in which the War had been car- 
ried on by the Enemy 186 

American Commissioners of Peace 

sent to Gotten burg 187 

The War gains ground in Public Opi- 
nion 187 



10 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



War with the Creek Indians 188 

Massacre by the Creeks at Fort Mims.188 
Expedition under Generals Jackson 

and Cocke against Tallushatches.190 

Battle of Talladega 190 

General Cocke surprises the Indians 

on the Tallapoosa River 191 

General Floyd's Expedition against 

the Autossee Towns 191 

General Claiborne's Expedition a- 
f ' gainst the Towns of Eccanachaca . 191 



General Jackson marches to the re- 
lief of Fort Armstrong 192 

His Critical Situation, and Retreat. ..19a 

Defeats an Indian Ambuscade 193 

Indians attack General Floyd at 

Camp Defiance, and are repulsed. 193 
General Jackson gains the sanguina- 
ry Victory of Horse-Shoe-Bend . . .194 
Terminates the War with the Creeks, 
and dictates Peace to them on 
Severe Terms 196 



CHAPTER XV. 



Plans of Operations against Canada 

proposed 197 

General Brown marches to Sackett'a 

Harbour 197 

General Wilkinson retires to Platts- 

burg 198 

Attacks the British at La Colle, and 

is repulsed 198 

Suspended from the command 199 

Discouraging difficulties in the Econ- 
omy of the Army 199 

Smuggling 200 

Unsuccessful Attack by the British at 

Otter Creek 200 

British Fleet enters Lake Champlain.201 
Lake Ontario— Contest for superiority 201 

Gallant Defence of Oswego 202 

British land at Pulteneyville 202 

Blockade of Sackett's Harbour 202 

Engagement at Sandy Creek and Cap- 
ture of the British there 203 

Death of Colonel Forsythe— of Cap- 
tain Malloux, in a Skirmish 204 



Colonel Campbell's Expedition a- 

gainst Dover, Canada 204 

Affairs to the Westward 205 

Colonel Baubee taken Prisoner 205 

Gallant Defence by Captain Holmes. .205 

Serious Crisis in our Affairs 206 

Napoleon overthrown 207 

Great Britain directs her undivided 

energies against the United States 208 
Northern Sea Coast invaded by Com- 
modore Hardy .208 

Attack on Saybrook and Brockway's 

Ferry 208 

Engagement in Long Island Sound. . .209 
Ravages at Wareham and Scituate. ..209 

Attack on Booth Bay repelled 209 

Occupation of all the Islands in Pas- 
samaquoddy Bay by the British. . .210 

Gallant Defence of Stonington 210 

Territory east of the Penobscot River 
claimed and occupied by the Brit- 
ish 211 

Destruction of the Frigate John Adams 211 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Naval Events 212 

The Plantagenet Seventy-Four de- 
clines a Contest with the Presi- 
dent, Commodore Rodgers 212 

Captain Stewart chases a British Fri- 
gate of equal force 212 

Cruise of Commodore Porter in the 
Essex 213 

He captures twelve armed British 
Whale Ships 213 

Arrives at the Island of Nooaheevah.213 

Takes possession of it in the name 
of the American Government. .. .213 



His Difficulties with the Savages there 213 

He burns their Villages 214 

British Comments on his Conduct 214 

Commodore Porter arrives at Valpa- 
raiso 215 

Is attacked by the Phoebe and Cherub 216 

His Desperate Resistance 217 

Capture of the Essex and Essex Junior 218 
The Peacock captures the British Brig 

Epervier 219 

The Wasp captures the Reindeer 220 

The Wasp sinks the Avon 221 

Mysterious Loss of the Wasp 221 



CONTENTS. 



11 



Cruise of the Presiilcnt, the Peacock 
and the Hornet 221 

The President captured by a British 

Squadron 222 

The Constitution engages and cap- 
tures the Cyane and the Levant. .225 



The Hornet, Captain Biddle, captures 

the Penguin 226 

Exploits of American Privateers 226 

Capture of the American Privateer 
Armstrong, after a dreadful Car- 
nage of the Enemy 227 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Plan of Campaign on the Canada 

Frontier 228 

General Brown collects an Army at 

Black Rock and Buffalo 229 

Captures Fort Erie 229 

Battle of Chippewa 230 

Gallantry of Major Jesup 231 

British retreat 232 

American Army advances 232 

Death of General Swift 233 

Movement on Fort George 233 

General Brown retreats to the Chip- 
pewa 233 

Battle of Niagara 234 

General Riall taken Prisoner 235 

Colonel Jesup 236 

Colonel Miller—" I will try, Sir" 236 

British Cannon charged upon and 

taken 237 

Desperate Efforts of the British to re- 
gain their Cannon 238 

Generals Scott and Brown wounded. .238 

British recover their Cannon 240 

Both Armies retire from the Field 240 

British advance next Morning 241 

Americans retreat to Fort Erie 241 

Defences of Fort Erie enlarged and 

extended 241 

Siege of Fort Erie 242 



Projected Attack on Buffalo repulsed. .242 
General Gaines assumes the Com- 
mand at Fort Erie 242 

Assault on Fort Erie 243 

Death of Colonel Drummond 244 

Tremendous Explosion 245 

The Besiegers driven back to their 

Works 245 

Renewal of the Cannonade 246 

Sortie from Fort Erie 246 

Destruction of the Enemy's Works. ..247 
British raise the Siege, and retreat to 

Fort George 248 

Arrival of General Izard at Fort Erie. 248 
Americans advance along the Niagara 249 

Engagement at Lyon's Creek 249 

Destruction of Fort Erie by the Amer- 
icans 249 

Evacuation of Upper Canada 249 

Close of the Third Invasion of Cana- 
da 250 

Important Results of the Campaign. .250 

Affairs of the West 251 

Unsuccessful Expedition against Mi- 

chilimackinac 251 

Capture of two American armed 

Schooners 251 

General M' Arthur's Expedition into 
Canada 251 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



War on the Sea Coast 252 

Engagements between the Enemy 
and Commodore Barney's Flotilla 

in Chesapeake Bay 252 

Pliinderings of the British 253 

Washington and Baltimore threatened 253 

Preparations for Defence 254 

General Winder appointed to com- 
mand the Troops to be assembled. .255 
Impracticability of collecting a suffi- 
cient Force 255 

The Enemy are reinforced 256 

Landing of the British Army under 
General Ross 256 



Advance of the British Army on 

Washington 257 

American Army takes post at Bla- 

densburg '. 258 

Battle of Bladensburg 259 

Defeat of the Americans 260 

Washington abandoned to the Enemy 261 

British burn the Public Buildings 261 

Retreat of the British to their shipping262 

Plunder of Alexandria 262 

Repulse of the British at Moors Fields, 

and Death of Sir Peter Parker . . .263 
Resignation of the Secretary of War. 263 
Trial and acquittal of General Winder 264 



12 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Sensations produced by the Capture 
of Washington in Europe and in 

England 264 

EfFect of it in the United States 264 

Preparations for defending Baltimore. 265 
Admiral Cochrane appears at the 

mouth of the Patapsco 266 

Debarkation of the British Troops at 

North Point 267 

General Strieker marches from Balti- 
more to meet them 267 

Battle of North Point 268 

Death of General Ross 268 

Retreat of the American Army 269 

British Army appears before Baltimore 270 

Bombardment of Fort M'Henry 271 

Attack on Baltimore abandoned 272 



British fleet retires to the West Indies. 272 

Affairs on the Northern Frontier 273 

Invasion of New York State by the 

British under Sir George Prevost. .273 
Progress of the British impeded by 

General Macomb 274 

British Array occupies Plattsburg op- 
posite the American Works 275 

Gallant Affair of Captain M'Glassin. .276 
British and American Fleets on Lake 

Champlain 276 

Battle of Lake Champlain 277 

Battle of Plattsburg 277 

Defeat of the British Squadron, and 

Capture of its principal Vessels. .278 
Retreat of the British Army from the 
American Territory 278 



CHAPTER XX. 



Unanimity of Sentiment in Congress. 282 

Negotiations with Great Britain 282 

British Sine Qua Non 283 

Hartford Convention 284 

Mr. Biddle's Report in the Legisla- 
ture of Pennsylvania 284 

Removal of the Seat of Government 

from Washington agitated 284 

Mr. Dallas appointed Secretary of the 

Treasury 285 

Improvement in our Finances 285 

Affairs to the Southward 285 

Attack on Fort Bowyer most gal- 
lantly repulsed 286 

Inroad into Florida, and Capture of 

Pensacola, by General Jackson. ..286 
Invasion of Louisiana meditated by 

the British 287 

Preparations to resist the Invasion. ..288 
Arrival of General Jackson at New 

Orleans 289 

His Presence inspires Confidence 289 

British Fleet arrives off the Coast 289 

Capture of the American Gun-Boats. .289 
Martial Law proclaimed by General 

Jackson 290 

The Pirate Lafitte 290 



British Forces land within seven 

Miles of New Orleans 291 

Battle of the 23d of December 291 

Results of the Battle 292 

General Jackson encamps, and forti- 
fies himself 292 

Affairs of the 28th of December, and 

of the 1st of January 1815 293 

Position of the American Troops 294 

British prepare to storm the Ameri- 
can Works on both sides of the 

Mississippi 294 

Memorable Battle of the 8th January. 294 

Death of General Packenham 295 

Defeat and Terrible Carnage of the 
British on the Left Bank of the 

River 295 

Americans driven from their In- 

trenchments on the Right Bank . .295 
Louisiana evacuated by the British. ..296 
Unsuccessful Bombardment of Fort 

St. Philip by the British 296 

Depredations of Admiral Cockburn 

along the Southern Coast 297 

Peace with Great Britain 297 

Terms of the Treaty of Peace 297 

Conclusion 298 



BRACKENRIDGE'S 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER I. 



Causes of the War with Great Britain — Rule of 1756— Impressment of American 
Seamen — Attack on the Chesapeake — Differences with France — French Decrees — 
Embargo — Non-Intercourse — Indian Hostilities— Tecumseh— General Harrison- 
Battle of Tippecanoe— Honours paid to General Harrison — War with Great Britain 
inevitable. 

The perseverance of the British nation in attempting to exer- 
cise a power without right, over her American brethren, first 
broke the ties of dependence, which it was so much her interest 
to preserve ; and her subsequent illiberal policy tended to weaken 
the influence of affinity, which a true wisdom would have 
taught her to cherish. Why is it that the enmity of those, 
between whom there are by nature the most numerous bonds 
of friendship, is the most bitter ? It is because each of these 
is a distinct cord which may vibrate to the feelings of hatred, 
as well as of love. With China, with Turkey, with France, 
we may be governed by temporary and varying policy ; but 
towards England we can never feel indifference. There 
always have been, and there still are numerous ties to attach 
us to Britain, which nothing but an ungenerous and unnatural 
policy can weaken or destroy. 

With the acknowledgement of our independence, Great 
Britain did not renounce her designs of subjugation. Force 
had been found unavailing, she next resolved to try what might 
be done by insidious means. For many years afler the peace 
of 1783, our affairs wore no promising appearance. The con- 
federation which bound the states during their struggle against 
a common enemy, was too feeble to hold them together in a 
time of peace. The cement of our union being thus eaten 
B 13 



14 BRACKENRIDGE^S 



Causes of the War with Great Britain RuTe of 1756. 

away, England foresaw what we had to encounter, and pro- 
phesying according to her wishes, solaced herself with the 
hope of seeing us divided, and engaged in civil broils. The 
seeds of dissension had been abundantly sown ; our state of 
finance was deplorably defective ; it might almost be said, that 
the nation was at an end, for so many jarring interests disco- 
vered themselves in the states, as almost to preclude the hope 
of reducing these discordant elements to harmony and order. 
A state of anarchy and civil war might restore us ta Great 
Britain. Happily for America, she possessed at this moment, 
a galaxy of sages and patriots, who maintained a powerful in- 
fluence over the minds of their fellow-citizens. By their exer- 
tions, a spirit of compromise and accommodation was introduced, 
which terminated in our present glorious compact — a second 
revolution, which secured to us the benefits of the first. 

By this event Great Britain lost, for a time, the opportunity 
of tampering with the individual states, of fomenting jealousies, 
and of governing by division. Her policy was changed ; it 
became a favourite idea, that our growth should be repressed, 
and so many impediments thrown in our way, as to convince 
us, that we had gained nothing in becoming free. We soon 
experienced the effects of her disappointment. Contrary to 
express stipulation, she refused to surrender the military posts 
on our western frontier, and, at the same time, secretly insti- 
gated the savages to murder the frontier settlers. Spain was, 
at this very moment, practising her intrigues to draw off the 
western states from the confederacy ; of which there is little 
doubt England would soon have taken advantage. 

But we also came in contact with Britain on the ocean : our 
commerce began to flourish ; and on the breaking out of the 
French war, she found in us formidable rivals. In order to 
put a stop to our competition, she called into life the odious, 
and almost obsolete rule of 1756, which is in palpable violation 
of the law of nations. The spirit of this rule is to prevent the 
neutral from enjoying any commerce, which would not, at the 
same time, be open to the belligerent ; in other words, to per- 
mit no neutral. In practice it was carried to the full extent. 
The orders in council of the 8th of January, 1793, became the 
source of a thousand vexations to American commerce; and yet 
they were in a manner tolerable, compared to those of the 6th 
of November, which were secretly circulated among the British 
cruisers, authorising them to capture "all vessels laden with 
the produce of any of the colonies of France, or carrying pro- 
visions or supplies to the said colony." The greater part of 
our commerce was at once swept from the ocean. On this 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 15 

Impressment of American Seamen. 

occasion, our mercantile communities came forward, unbiassed 
by party divisions. They expressed themselves in the strong- 
est terms against this treacherous and wicked procedure. The 
vi^ar of the revolution had not been forgotten ; that with the sa- 
vages still raged : it was not by such acts, we could be induced 
to entertain a friendly feeling towards England. There pre- 
vailed a universal clamour for war, among the merchants par- 
ticularly, and which it required all the firmness of Washington 
to withstand. This great man had marked out to himself the 
wise policy, of keeping aloof from European politics, and 
of avoiding all entanglements in their wars. Mr. Jay was 
despatched as a special messenger, with orders to remon- 
strate in a manly tone. This mission terminated in the cele- 
brated treaty of 1794 ; which was sanctioned by the nation, 
although not without great reluctance. It appeared in the 
sequel, that we had merely evaded a war, in order to recom- 
mence disputes concerning the same causes. 

The British did little more than modify their orders in coun- 
cil, by those issued in 1795 and 1798. In fact, down to the 
peace of Amiens, the same vexations and abuses furnished a 
constant theme of remonstrance. Neither General Washing- 
ton, nor Mr. Adams, was able to arrange our differences with 
England, or induce her to consult her own true interests, by a 
just and liberal policy towards us. From this we may fairly 
infer, that no administration of our government could have 
succeeded in accommodating our differences upon just and 
equitable principles. 

Another cause of complaint accompanied with equal step the 
violations of our commercial and maritime rights, and was of a 
nature still more vexatious. It is one upon which American 
feeling has always been much alive. Great Britain is the only 
modern nation, within the pale of civilization, at least of those 
who recognise the general maritime law, who does not consi- 
der the flag as protecting the person who sails under it ; and we 
are the only people who, during peace, have been dragged from 
our ships on the high seas, by Christian nations, and condemn- 
ed to servitude. This intolerable outrage grew up from a small 
beginning, by imprudent acquiescence on our part; perhaps 
not conceiving it possible, that it could ever assume so hide- 
ous a front. At first, it was a claim to search our merchant 
vessels for deserters from the public service of Britain ; next, 
it became a right to impress English seamen, who had engaged 
themselves in American ships ; finally, every person who could 
not prove on the spot, to the satisfaction of the boarding officer, 
that he was an American, was carried away into a most hate- 



BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Impressment of American Seamen. 



ful bondage. England had gone far, in asserting the right to 
search a neutral vessel, for enemy's goods ; but this pretended 
exception to the general rule that a ship on the high seas is as 
inviolable as the territory of the nation at peace, had been op- 
posed by every pawer in Europe, excepting the one which 
happened for the tiiTie to be mistress of the seas ; a strong proof 
that it was not a right, but an abuse. The claim set up of a 
right to search neutral ships for men, is unsupported by any 
writer on the public law, or by one sound reason. She had 
no more right to claim her subjects from our ships, than from 
our territory. Whatever right she might have, to prevent them 
from quitting their country, at times when their services were 
required ; or of punishing them for doing so : she had no right 
to pursue them into our country, or demand them from us, un- 
less sustained in doing so by express stipulation. But what 
she had no right to demand, she had a right to take by force ! 
When closely pressed, she deigned at last to give some reasons 
in support of her practice : — she must have men to man her 
thousand ships — she was contending for her existence — we had 
no right to employ her seamen — our flag had no regard to her 
interests — our employment of foreign seamen was not regu- 
lated — our sufferings were the consequence of our own im- 
prudence. — These were the only arguments that could be used 
in support of such a practice. If England said she must have 
men, we answered that we must have men also. We also 
were contending for our existence, but did not think it justi- 
fiable on that account to plunder our neighbours, or make them 
slaves. She said that we had no right to employ her seamen — 
we could answer that she had no right to employ ours. We 
were no more bound to consult her interest, than she considered 
herself bound to consult ours. The fact is, that no nation in 
the world employs a greater number of foreign seamen thaa 
Great Britain, in her immense commerce, and in her immense 
navy ; and she has a right to employ them, not for the reason 
she has assigned, to wit, that she was contending for her ex- 
istence, or fighting the battles of the world, but because the 
thing was lawful in itself. So far from restricting herself, or 
regulating the practice, or consulting the interests of others, 
she consulted only her own interests, and held out enticements 
to foreign seamen, which no other nation did. Here, then, was 
a simple question ; how came that to be unlawful in America, 
which was lawful in Britain ? Would not Great Britain protect 
an American seaman, who has been made an Englishman by 
beincf two vears in her service ? But were we to blame because 
her seamen preferred our service ? There was, in fact, nothing m 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 17 



Impressment of American Seamen. 



the American practice to justify reprisals. The employment 
of English seamen, who voluntarily tendered their services, was 
lawful, however disagreeable it might be to England. How far a 
friendly feeling towards that country, might induce us to consult 
her convenience and interests, or how far our own weakness, or 
interest, might require us to waive our rights, was another matter. 

This is placing the subject in the least reprehensible view, 
as respects England. But when we come to examine the man- 
ner in which this pretended right was exercised by her, it can- 
not be doubted for a moment, that the whole was a mere pretext 
to vex our commerce, and recruit for her navy, from American 
ships. This is evident, from the uniform practice of impress- 
ing men of all nations, found in them : Spaniards, Portuguese, 
Danes, Russians, Hollanders, and even Negroes. It was, in 
fact, an insult to every nation in the civilized world. Tros 
Tyriusque nullo, was the motto, although not in the friendly 
sense in which it was used by the Queen of Carthage. The 
Br.i. ,-h practice amounted to subjecting the crew of every Ame- 
rican vessel, to be drawn up before a lieutenant of the navy, 
that he might choose out such as suited his purpose. The 
good sailor was uniformly an Englishman, and the lubber an 
American. It has been said, that the number of impressed 
Americans was exaggerated ; was there no exaggeration as to 
the number of Englishmen in the American service 1 Was it 
then of more importance, that Great Britain should prevent a 
few of her seamen from escaping into a foreign service, than it 
was to us, that free Americans should be doomed to the worst 
of slavery ? 

England has never known the full extent of the sensations 
produced in America, by her practice of impressment. The 
influence of party spirit has contributed to deceive her. The 
great body of Americans have always felt this outrage to their 
persons, with the keenest indignation ; no American adminis- 
tration would ever express a different sentiment. She was much 
mistaken, if she supposed, that the outcry against her conduct 
was a mere party trick ; it was deeply felt as an egregious in- 
sult. She did not know that the American seamen were, in 
general, of a class superior to her own ; that is, more decently 
brought up, of more reputable connexions, of better morals and 
education, and many of them looking forward, after the expira- 
tion of their apprenticeships, to be mates and captains of ves- 
sels; or rather she knew it well, and therefore gave them her 
baleful preference. But mark the retribution which follows 
the steps of injustice.. When any of these men were so fortu- 
nate as to escape from seven or ten years' servitude on board a 

B * 



18 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Impressment of American Seamen. 

British man-of-war, they breathed nothing but revenge, and 
imparted tlie same feeling to their countrymen. It was pre- 
dicted, that these men who had wrongs of their own, would 
be found, in case of war with England, no common foes. War 
came, and Britain may read in our naval combats, a commen- 
tary on her practice of impressment, and her tyranny on the 
ocean. 

As early as the year 1793, it was declared by the American 
minister at London, that the practice of impressment had pro- 
duced great irritation in America, and that it was difficult to 
avoid making reprisals on the British seamen in the United 
States. It is perhaps to be regretted, that General Washing- 
ton's threat was not carried into execution, as it might have 
brought the affair to issue at once. The practice had grown 
so vexatious after the treaty of 1794, that the British govern- 
ment was told in plain terms, that unless a remedy was applied, 
war would be inevitable. It was said to be of such a nature, 
as no American could bear ; "that they might as well rob the 
American vessels of their goods, as drag the American sea- 
men from their ships, in the manner practised by them." Cer- 
tainly the offence would have been as much less, as a bale of 
goods is of less value than a man. It was stated, that as many 
as two hundred and seventy Americans were then actually in 
the British service, the greater part of whom persisted in re- 
fusing pay and bounty. They were told, that if they had any 
regard for the friendship of this country, they would facilitate the 
means of relieving those of our oppressed fellow-citizens. That 
the excuse alleged by Great Britain, of not being able to dis- 
tinguish between her subjects, and the citizens of America, 
was without foundation, inasmuch as foreigners who could not 
be mistaken, were equally liable to impressment. The ho- 
nour of the nation, it was said, was deeply concerned, and un- 
less the practice should be discontinued, it must ultimately lead 
to open rupture. This was the language uniformly held forth, 
by every successive administration of the American government. 
It was the theme of reprobation, and remonstrance, of every 
distinguished statesman of this country. On this subject we 
find Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Mar- 
shall, Jay, Pickering, King, and many others, in their official 
correspondence, fully and uniformly concurring. In fact, these 
complaints continued until the last hour, in consequence of our 
impolitic submission. 

This shocking outrage was at length carried to such extent, 
that voyages were often broken up, and the safety of vessels 
endangered, by not leaving a sufficient number of marinei's on 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 19 

Impressment of American Seamen Attack on the Chesapeake. 

board to navigate them. It was estimated, that at least seven 
thousand Americans were at one time in the British service, 
against their will. Even as respects her own subjects, the 
practice of impressment is one of the most cruel and unjust ; 
in direct opposition to the general freedom of her constitu- 
tion, and only covered by the most miserable sophistry ; but 
to America, who would not endure a single one of her citizens 
to be impressed into her own service, it is not suprising that it 
should appear detestable. The tribute of Minos, or of Monte- 
zuma, of the youth doomed as a sacrifice to infernal idols, was 
not more hateful. The American was compelled to stoop to 
the humiliation of carrying about him, on the high seas, the 
certificate of his nativity ; and this was soon found unavailing, 
it was torn to pieces by the tyrant, and its fragments scattered 
to the winds. She boldly asserted the right of dragging from 
underneath our flag, every one who could not prove on the spot, 
that he was not a British subject. Every foreigner, no matter 
of what country, was, in consequence, excluded from our mer- 
chant service. On the part of the United States, every possible 
effort was made to compromise the matter, but in vain. No 
offer was ever made by Great Britain, which presented any 
prospect of putting an end to these abuses ; while the most fair 
and rational on our part, were rejected. About the year 1800, 
a proposal was made for the mutual exchange of deserters, but 
this was rejected by Mr. Adams, for the same reason that the 
President rejected the treaty of 1806 — because it was thought 
better to have no provision, than one which did not sufficiently 
provide against the abuses of impressment. England offered 
to make it penal, for any of her naval officers to impress our 
seamen, provided we discontinued our practice of naturalizing 
her subjects. The mockery of such a proposition, alone fully 
proves her fixed mind. No plan could be devised so suitable 
to her wishes, as that of subjecting the liberty, life, and hap- 
piness of an American citizen, to the caprice of every petty 
lieutenant of her navy : otherwise, she would have been con- 
tented with the exclusion of her subjects from all American 
vessels, a thing which she had no right to ask, but which we 
were willing to grant for the sake of peace. 

The climax of this extraordinary humiliation, and which, a 
century hence, will scarcely be credited, was still wanting ; the 
attack on the Chesapeake occurred, and for the moment, con- 
vulsed the nation. This vessel was suddenly attacked within 
our waters in profound peace, compelled to surrender, and several 
seamen, alleged to be British, were then forcibly taken from 
her. The burst of indignation which followed, was even more 



20 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Attack on the Chesapeake. 

violent than that which was produced by the orders in council 
of 1793. Party animosity was suspended, meetings were as- 
sembled in every village, the newspapers were filled with formal 
addresses, volunteer companies were every where set on foot, 
and, in the first phrensy of the moment, the universal cry was 
for immediate war. Although hostilities were not declared, 
the feelings of America were from that day at war with Eng- 
land: a greater attention was paid to the discipline of our 
militia, and the formation of volunteer corps ; and the govern- 
ment was continually making appropriations for our national 
defence. We still resorted to negotiation ; and the aggressors, 
thinking that we might now possibly be in earnest, were willing 
to avoid war by a sacrifice of pride. They yielded to the humi- 
liation of surrendering the American citizens, upon the very 
deck from which they had been forced ; but, at the same time, 
rewarded the officer by whom the violence had been offered. 
In excusing her conduct, England condescended to tell us, 
with a serious face, that she never pretended to the right of 
impressing American citizens, and this, she seemed to consider, 
rather as a magnanimous acknowledgement. Humiliating in- 
deed, to be seriously told, that she did not regard our citizens 
as her property ! Nothing can furnish stronger proof of the 
extent of the abuse, and the bad policy of our pacific course of 
remonstrance. Our sacred duty to our fellow-citizens, as well 
as a regard to our national character, forbade such an acqui- 
escence. 

From this review of the subject of impressment, we return 
to the other principal branch of our national differences. It 
must be evident to the reader, that nothing was to be expected 
from any temporary arrangement on the part of our enemy ; 
that nothing short of a change in her general policy and temper 
would suffice, and nothing but a war could effect this change. 
Whatever disputes we may have had with other nations, they 
were of little moment, compared to our differences with England. 
To settle the terms on which we were to be with her, was of 
the first importance ; our mutual intercourse and trade were of 
vast extent ; she occupied the highway to other nations, which 
she could interrupt when she pleased ; it was of little conse- 
quence on what terms we were with others, so long as our 
relations with England were not properly adjusted. Our in- 
tercourse with France was comparatively of but little moment. 
She had not recovered from the phrensies of her revolution ; her 
deportment was eccentric, lawless, and unstable ; she was a 
comet, threatening all nations. Our true wisdom was to keep 
out of her way. On the ocean she was but little to be dreaded, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 21 

Differences with France French Decrees. 

and was in no condition to execute her threats. But notwith- 
standing the power of England to sweep our commerce from 
the ocean, and to seal our ports, we still expected something 
from her good sense, her justice, or her interest. Yet scarcely 
was the flame of war once more lighted up on the continent, than 
both the belligerents began, under various pretexts, to prey upon 
our commerce. On the part of England, the rule of 1756 was 
revived, and applied in a manner more intolerable than ever. 
The sufferings of the American merchants were such, as to cause 
them to call loudly on the government for protection ; and a 
war with England, at this time, was by many thought inevita- 
ble. It appeared to be her fixed determination, that neutrals 
should enjoy no trade without her special license and permis- 
sion. By some it was thought, that if we should enter into 
her views, and declare war against France, she would amicably 
arrange the points in dispute between us. This, however, was 
very doubtful ; it would only have encouraged her to make still 
further claims. Such a thing was, besides, impossible. The 
American people, still smarting under so many wrongs unre- 
dressed, could not be induced to do what would amount almost 
to a return to subjection. 

In May 1806, Great Britain commenced her system of paper 
blockade, by interdicting all intercourse with a great part of 
France and her dependencies. This operated exclusively on 
the United States, who were the only remaining neutrals. The 
decrees of the French emperor of the 6th of November follow- 
ed, and were immediately made known to our minister at Lon- 
don by the British government, with a threat, that if they were 
put in execution (although the British minister well knew, that 
it could bo nothing more than a bravado) similar measures 
would be adopted. But without waiting the result, in fact be- 
fore the lapse of a fortnight, the British government issued the 
orders in council of the 7th of January 1806, which went the full 
length of declaring, that no vessel should be at liberty to trade 
from one port of France to another ; or from a port under her 
control, and from which the English were excluded. Napo- 
leon's celebrated Milan decrees succeeded, which were little 
more than nominal in their effect on the neutral who did not 
place himself in his power ; they affected us, not England. 
We were the only sufferers in this system of retaliation, which 
was, in fact, a gross violation of neutral rights on the part of 
both the contending powers. England was apparently bene- 
fited, inasmuch as it struck a blow at our commerce, and ren- 
dered it impossible for us to spread a sail without her permis- 
sion. The belligerents presented the spectacle of two highway 



22 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Embargo Non-Intercourse. 

men, robbing a traveller and then quarrelling for the spoil ; 
and yet this was called retaliation ! 

The United States sincerely wished to be at peace. Each 
of the belligerents accused us of partiality : and wherein was 
that partiality ? Simply in this : France declared that we suf- 
fered the depredations of England with more patience, than her 
own ; and England, that she alone had a right to plunder us ! 
Each seemed to consider it as a previous condition of rendering 
us justice, that we should compel her adversary to respect our 
rights. In this singular situation, it appeared the wisest course 
to withdraw entirely from the ocean. Experience soon taught 
us that our embargo system could not be carried into effect, for 
reasons which it is unnecessary to repeat. The restrictive sys- 
tem was substituted ; we placed it in the power of either of the 
wrong-doers, to make us the open enemy of the other, unless 
that other renounced his practices. Napoleon was the first to 
announce " a sense of returning justice ;" our government, the 
suffering party, declared itself satisfied. England had shown 
no such sense of returning justice, on this occasion ; she had 
promised to repeal her orders, provided the French decrees 
were rescinded ; but refused to take the official declaration of 
the French minister, although we had, in a similar case before, 
accepted her own, and positively refused to repeal the orders 
in council, in default of evidence that the French ivere disposed 
to do us Justice ! It were useless to discuss the question of our 
partiality to France or to England, while we were complaining 
of the aggressions of both. The meaning of both was obvious 
enough ; it was that we should take part in the affairs of Eu- 
rope. England supposed that we could do her service, and 
Napoleon thought that we could injure England. 

In the mean time, the loss of American property by the de- 
predations of the belligerents, had been immense. The vexa- 
tions practised by the British cruisers off our coast, who made 
it a point to harass the issuing and returning commerce of the 
United States, kept the public mind continually inflamed. Our 
citizens were distracted amid these surrounding difficulties. It 
was agreed that we had ample cause of hostility against both 
belligerents, but the administration was accused of undue lean- 
ing towards France, and a disposition not sufficiently concilia- 
tory towards England. The friends of the administration de- 
clared, that the efforts to obtain redress from England were 
weakened by a powerful British influence, which had grown 
up of late years in the Eastern States and in the commercial 
cities. 

While the public mind was in this state of ferment, from 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 23 

Indian Hostilities Teciimseh. 

our disputes with England and France, our frontiers were 
threatened with an Indian war, which, as usual, was attributed 
to the instigations of the former. The United States have 
frequently been charged with cruel violence and injustice to 
the Indians. That we have encroached upon their hunting 
grounds, cannot be denied, but this was the necessary conse- 
quence of the increase in our population : but the great differ- 
ence between us and other nations, in relation to the Indian 
lands, is, that instead of taking them without ever acknowledg- 
ing the right of the Indians, we have endeavoured to obtain 
them by fair purchase. The United States were the first to 
respect the Indian territorial right, as they were the first to 
abolish the slave trade. 

There was, at this time, a celebrated Indian warrior, who 
had been always remarkable for his enmity to the whites, and 
who, like Pontiac, had formed the design of uniting all the 
different tribes, in order to oppose an effectual barrier to the 
further extension of the settlements. Tecumseh was a formi- 
dable enemy ; he resorted to every artifice to stir up the minds 
of the Indians against us. Of an active and restless character, 
he visited the most distant nations, and endeavoured to rouse 
them by his powerful eloquence. He also assailed the super- 
stitious minds of his countrymen, by means of his brother, a 
kind of conjuror, called " the Prophet." He had received as- 
surances from the British of such assistance as would enable him 
to carry his plans into execution. In the year 1811, a council 
was held by governor Harrison, of the territory of Indiana, at 
Vincennes, and at which Tecumseh attended, to remonstrate 
against a purchase lately made from the Kickapoos and some 
other tribes. In a strain of native eloquence, the orator in- 
veighed against the encroachments of the Americans, gave a 
history of the progress of the settlements, from the first com- 
mencement on the Delaware, to the moment at which he spoke, 
insisting that the lands were bestowed by the Great Spirit upon 
all the Indians in common, and that no portion could be dis- 
posed of without the consent of all. When Harrison replied 
to this extravagant pretension, he grasped his tomahawk, in a 
fit of phrensy, and boldly charged the American governor with 
having uttered what was false, while the warriors who attended 
him, twenty or thirty in number, followed his example : but 
Harrison had fortunately posted a guard of soldiers near, who 
put a stop to their fury. The council was, however, broken 
jp, and nothing short of war was expected to result. 

Towards the close of the year, the frontier settlers had be- 
come seriously alarmed ; every thing on the part of the Indians 



24 BRACKENRIOGE^S 

. , — _- — i„ .ii. 

General Harrison Battle of Tippecanoe. 

appeared to indicate approaching hostilities. Governor Har- 
rison resolved to move towards the Prophet's town, with a 
body of* Kentucky and Indiana militia, and the Fourth United 
States regiment, under colonel Boyd, to demand satisfaction 
of the Indians, and to put a stop to their hostile designs. 

On the 6th of November 1811, the army approached the 
Prophet's town; the Indians during the day manifesting every 
hostile disposition, excepting that of actually attacking, which 
they were not likely to do without having a decided advantage. 
Several attempts had been made, on the part of the governor, 
to bring them to a parley, which they sullenly rejected, until he 
approached within a mile of the town, when becoming alarmed 
for their own safety, they at length sent a deputation to make 
their excuse, and to profess their willingness to meet in council. 
The governor, in obedience to his instructions to avoid hostili- 
ties as long as it was possible, had been unwilling to attack 
their town until compelled by necessity, and now acceded to 
their proposals of holding a treaty the next morning. But dis- 
trusting these savages, with whose wily arts he was well ac- 
quainted, he cautiously looked out a place of encampment. He 
chose an elevated piece of ground, in the open prairie, after a 
careful reconnoissance by majors Taylor and Clark. The two 
columns of infantry occupied the front and rear. The right flank 
was occupied by captain Spencer's company ; the left flank by 
three companies commanded by general Wells as major. The 
front line was composed of one battalion of United States infantry 
under major Floyd, and a regiment of Indiana militia under 
colonel Bartholomew. The rear line consisted of a battalion 
of United States infantry under captain Baen, commanding as 
major, and four companies of Indiana volunteers under lieute- 
nant colonel Decker. The right flank was composed of Spen- 
cer's company of Indiana volunteer riflemen ; the left of Robb's 
company of Indiana volunteers, and Guiger's, a mixed com- 
pany of Kentucky and Indiana volunteers ; a portion of United 
States troops turning the left front and left rear angles respective- 
ly. The cavalry under major Davies were encamped in the rear 
of the front line and left flank, and held in reserve as a dis- 
posable force. The army, thus judiciously posted, was not 
more than a mile from the town. 

The order given to the army in the event of a night attack, 
was for each corps to maintain its position until relieved. The 
dragoons were directed in such case, to parade dismounted, 
with their swords and pistols, and to wait for orders. The 
guard for the night consisted of two captain's commands of 
twenty-four men, and four non-commissioned officers j and two 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 25 

Battle of Tippecanoe. 

subaltern's guards of twenty men and non-commissioned offi- 
cers ; the whole under the command of a field officer of the 
day. 

On the night of the 6th, the troops lay under arms, and 
the commander-in-chief was ready to mount his horse at a 
moment's warning. On the morning of the 7th, about four 
o'clock, he arose, and sat by the lire conversing with some of 
his family ; orders had been given to beat the reveille ; the 
moon had risen, but overshadowed with clouds, which occa- 
sionally discharged a drizzling rain. At this moment the 
attack commenced. The Indians, in their usual stealthy man- 
ner, had crept up to the sentinels, intending to rush upon them, 
and kill them before they could fire ; but being discovered, and 
the alarm given, they raised their yell, and made a furious 
charge upon the left flank. The guard in that quarter, being 
struck with panic, gave way, and the first onset was received by 
captain Barton's company of regulars, and captain Guiger's 
company of mounted riflemen, forming the lefl; angle of the rear 
line. The fire there was severe ; but the troops being already 
prepared, were soon formed, and gallantly opposed the fury of 
their assailants. The fires of the camp were instantly extin- 
guished, excepting in front of Barton's and Guiger's companies, 
where the suddenness of the attack prevented this from being 
done. The governor, having no time to wait, mounted the first 
horse that could be brought to him, a fortunate circumstance, 
as his own, a fine grey, was known to the Indians, and became 
the object of their search. Finding the line weakened at the 
first point attacked, he ordered two companies from the centre 
of the rear line, to march up, and form across the angle in the 
rear of Barton and Guiger's companies. In passing through 
the camp, towards the left of the front line, he met major 
Daviess, who informed him that the Indians, concealed behind 
some trees near the line, were annoying the troops very 
severely, and requested permission to dislodge them. In at- 
tempting this, he fell mortally wounded, as did colonel White 
of Indiana. 

In the mean time, a fierce attack was made on Spencer's and 
Warwick's companies on the right. Captain Spencer and his 
lieutenants were all killed, and captain Warwick was mortally 
wounded. The governor, in passing towards that flank, found 
captain Robb's company near the centre of the camp. They 
had been driven from their post, or rather had fallen back. 
He led them to the aid of captain Spencer, where they fought 
bravely during the remainder of the action : while in this act, 
his aid, colonel Owen, was killed at his side ; this officer was 
c 



26 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Battle of Tippecanoe Honours paid to General Harrison. 



mounted on a white horse, and as the governor had ridden a 
grey the day before, it is probable that Owen was mistaken 
for him, by one of those Indians who had devoted themselves 
to certain destruction, in order to insure victory by killing the 
commander-in-chief. 

Captain Prescott's company of United States infantry had 
filled up the vacancy caused by the retreat of Robb's company. 
Soon after Daviess was wounded, captain Snelling, by order 
of the governor, charged upon the same Indians, and dislodged 
them with considerable loss. The battle was now maintained 
on all sides with desperate valour. The Indians advanced and 
retreated, by a rattling noise made with deer hoofs, and fought 
with a degree of desperation seldom equalled. When the day 
dawned, captain Snelling's company, captain Posey's, under 
lieutenant Albright, captain Scott's and captain Wilson's, were 
drawn from the rear, and formed on the left flank ; while 
Cook's and Baen's companies were ordered to the right. Ge- 
neral Wells was ordered to take command of the corps formed 
on the left, and with the aid of some dragoons, who were now 
mounted, and commanded by lieutenant Wallace, to charge the 
enemy in that direction, which he did successfully, driving 
them into a swamp where the cavalry could not follow them. 
At the same time. Cook's and Larrabee's companies, with the 
aid of the riflemen and militia, on the right flank, charged the 
Indians and put them to flight in that quarter, which terminated 
the battle. 

This is one of the most desperate battles ever fought with the 
Indians, and but for the caution and efficiency of the comman- 
der-in-chief, might have terminated like the night attack on 
general Sinclair. The army, with the exception of the regular 
troops under general Boyd, was chiefly composed of militia 
and volunteers, who had never been in battle before. Resolu- 
tions were passed by the legislatures of the state of Kentucky 
and the territory of Indiana, highly complimentary of governor 
Harrison, and the officers and troops under his command ; and 
the reputation of the commander-in-chief, as an able and pru- 
dent general, was established on the most solid foundation. 

The battle of Tippecanoe contributed to inflame the temper 
of the country, already calling for war. A naval incident which 
occurred some time afterwards, did not serve to allay it. Off 
the American coast, commodore Rodgers, during the night, fell 
in with a British corvette, which afterwards proved to be the 
Little Belt ; being hailed by the commodore, the commander 
merely repeated the question, and, after some minutes, actually 
fired several of his guns. On this, the commodore poured a 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 27 

War with Great Britain inevitable. 

broadside into her, and compelled her commander to beg for 
mercy. This was the first check the British commanders had 
received from us on the ocean. 

The conduct of Great Britain, which grew every day more 
insupportable, can only be accounted for, by her belief that we 
could not (to use the contemptuous expressions of the day) " be 
kicked into a war." The experiment of war, on the part of 
the United States,, was an awful one ; any administration might 
be justly apprehensive of venturing upon an experinaent, the 
consequences of which no one could foresee. This forbear- 
ance was construed into pusillanimity ; and the name and cha- 
racter of the United States had sunk low, in consequence, with 
every nation of Europe. We had become the butt and jest of 
Napoleon and the English ministry, and who yet vainly essayed 
to draw us into a participation in their wars. A v/ar with Na- 
poleon could not have been more than nominal, unless we united 
in a close alliance with England ; without this, we could inflict 
on him nothing more than a simple non-intercourse. But a 
war with England would be a very different matter ; without 
forming any alliance with Napoleon, we might assail her com- 
merce, her public ships, and her adjoining provinces. 

But Great Britain was contending for her existence, she was 
fighting the battles of the civilized world ; it was therefore cruel 
and ungenerous to press our demands at such a moment. This 
was by no means evident. If it had been true, why did she 
continue, at such a time, to insult and abuse us in every possi- 
ble shape? Notwithstanding this appeal, there were many 
amongst us who could see only a contest between two great 
nations for the mastery of the world. We saw the stupendous 
schemes of British aggrandisement, in every part of the globe, 
which had little the appearance of fighting for her existence. 
We saw her already mistress of the seas ; we regarded any 
actual invasion of her shores, as a thing too visionary, even for 
Napoleon ; we saw, in the lawless and unbounded projects of 
this despot, at which England affected to be alarmed, her best 
security, as they kept alive the fears and jealousies of the sur- 
rounding nations, and silently undermined his throne. We 
have seen how inconsiderable were, in reality, all his conquests. 
The existence of England was never in danger ; Napoleon 
could never have subdued Spain and Russia ; two projects, 
which all now admit to have been the extreme of folly. Eng- 
land was not fighting the battles of the world, but of her ambi- 
tion ; she was not the bulwark of our religion, but the instigator 
of the savages ; she was not the world's last hope — -That last 
hope is America ,* not as the pretended champion in the cause 



28 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Declaration of War by the United States. 

of other nations, but as a living argument that tyranny is not 
necessary to the safety of man ; that to be degraded and debased 
is not the way to be great, prosperous and happy. 



CHAPTER II. 



Declaration of War by the United States— General Hull reaches Detroit— He 
crosses into Canada— Skirmishes on the River Aux Canards— Taking of Michili- 
mackinac— Battle of Brownstown— Battle of Magagua— Taking of Chicago— Surren- 
der of General Hull. 

An interesting period in the history of this youthful nation 
was fast approaching. Our affairs with Great Britain had 
become every day more and more embarrassed. The storm 
already lowered, and there was little hope that the gathering 
clouds would pass harmless over us. In consequence of this 
state of things, the first session of the twelfth congress had 
been protracted to an unusual length, and the eyes of America 
were turned towards it in anxious expectation. On the 5th of 
June 1812, the President laid before congress the correspond- 
ence between our secretary of state and the British minister 
near our government, which seemed to preclude all hope of 
coming to an adjustment, in the two principal points in dispute, 
— the orders in council, and the subject of impressment. But we 
had so often been on the point of a rupture with Great Britain, 
that even at this moment no certain conjecture could be formed 
by the most intelligent, of the probable result. The public 
voice called loudly for war, at least this was the sense of a 
great majority of the nation. At length, on the 18th of June, 
after sitting with closed doors, the solemn and important appeal 
to arms was announced. The President had communicated 
his message, in which all our complaints against Great Britain 
were enumerated with great force, and an opinion expressed 
that no remedy, no hope now remained, but in open war. The 
committee of foreign relations, to whom the message was refer 
red, concurred with the President, in recommending the mea- 
svire. An act was accordingly passed, which received the sanc- 
tion of the President on the same day ; and on the day follow- 
ing, the 19th of June 1812, war was publicly proclaimed. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 29 

Declaration of War by the United Slates. 

This highly important and eventful act of the national legis- 
lature was variously received. In some places it produced 
demonstrations of joy, similar to that which followed our de- 
claration of independence. War as a calamity, although una- 
voidable in the present state of the world, where the strong 
disregard the rights of the weak, should be received without 
despondency, but not with gladness. Many, however, regarded 
the war with England, as a second struggle in support of na- 
tional independence ; and not in the course of ordinary wars, 
waged for the sake of mere interest, or in pursuit of the plans 
of state policy. On the sea board, and in the eastern states, 
the sensations which it produced were far from being joyful. 
The sudden gloom by which their commercial prosperity was 
overcast, caused an awful sadness as from an eclipse of the 
sun. The commerce of the cities, although for some years 
greatly restricted by the depredations of the two great contend- 
ing powers of Europe, still lingered in hopes of better times ; 
it must now be totally at an end ; their ships must be laid up, 
and business almost cease. In different parts of the United 
States, the war would necessarily be more severely felt ,• in an 
extensive country like this, it is impossible it should be other- 
wise. Moreover, there were those who regarded this measure 
as a most interesting and eventful experiment. An opinion 
was prevalent that the form of our government was not adapted 
to war, from the want of sufficient energy in the executive 
branch, and from unavoidable divisions in the national councils. 
But what was much more to be feared, the union of our states 
had scarcely yet been perfectly cemented ; and if the interests 
of any extensive portion should be too deeply affected, a disso- 
lution of our compact, " the noblest fabric of human invention," 
might ensue. A powerful party was opposed to the measure, 
on the grounds, that an accommodation with England might yet 
be made, that war could not be otherwise than in subserviency 
to the views of France, and that we were unprepared for so 
serious a contest. The opposition of a great portion of the 
population, of the talents and wealth of the country, was enti- 
tled to respect, and would certainly tend to throw embarrass- 
ments on its prosecution. Unanimity, in so important a mea- 
sure, was not to be expected ; yet the disadvantages of this 
opposition would be greatly felt. It was foreseen that our 
Atlantic cities would be much exposed ; that the coasts of the 
southern states would be laid open to the incursions of maraud- 
ing parties ; and that the western frontier would feel all the 
horrors of a savage and murderous warfare. Many persons, on 
the other hand, entertained the belief, that the Canadas would 



30 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Declaration of War by the United States. 

fall, and that the Floridas, in case that Spain should be brought 
into the contest on the side of England, would be ours. Thus 
should we be freed from troublesome neighbours, and end for- 
ever, that dreadful species of hostility in which we had been so 
often engaged with the savages. These hopes were not ill 
founded ; but we were not aware, at the time, of our deficiency 
in experience, and want of a full knowledge of our resources — 
the causes of many subsequent calamities. 

For some years previous to the declaration of war, a mili- 
tary spirit was gradually diffusing itself amongst the people. 
Pains were taken in disciplining volunteer companies through- 
out the country ; a degree of pride and emulation was every 
where felt, to excel in military exercises. The general prepa- 
rations for war seemed to be prompted by instinct of the ap- 
proaching event. But the mihtary establishments were ex- 
ceedingly defective. Acts of congress had already authorized 
the enlistment of twenty-five thousand men ; but it was found 
impossible to fill the ranks of a regular army, from the small 
number of individuals who were not in easy circumstances, and 
therefore under no necessity for enlisting. The whole number 
already enlisted, scarcely amounted to five thousand men, and 
these scattered over an immense surface of country. The Pre- 
sident was authorized to receive fitly thousand volunteers, and 
to call out one hundred thousand militia. This force could not 
be expected to be otherwise serviceable, than for the purpose 
of defending the sea coast, or the frontier. A difficulty of still 
greater importance existed ; the best troops in the world are 
inefficient, unless they happen to be led by able and experi- 
enced officers. Our best revolutionary officers had paid the 
debt to nature, and those who remained, were either far ad- 
vanced in life, or had not been tried in other than subordinate 
stations ; and besides, from long repose, had laid aside their mi- 
litary habits. There prevailed, however, a disposition to place 
a degree of reliance on the skill of the revolutionary soldier, 
from the mere circumstance of having been such, which was 
not corrected until we had been severely taught by after expe- 
rience. Such was the situation of things, at the commence- 
ment of hostilities. 

Governor Hull, at the head of about two thousand men, was 
on his march to Detroit, with a view of putting an end to the 
Indian hostilities, when he received information of the decla- 
ration of war. His force consisted of about one thousand 
regulars, and twelve hundred volunteers from the state of 
Ohio, who had rendezvoused on the 29th of April. In the begin- 
ning of June they advanced to Urbanna, where they were join- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 31 

General Hull reaches Detroit. 

ed by the Fourth regiment of United States infantry, and imme- 
diately commenced their march through the wilderness, still in 
possession of the Indians, and which separated the inhabited 
part of the state of Ohio, from the Michigan territory. From 
the town of Urbanna to the Rapids, a distance of one hundred 
and twenty miles, they had to pass through a country without 
roads, and abounding with marshes. From the Rapids to De- 
troit, along the Miami of the Lake, and along the Detroit river, 
there were a few settlements, chiefly of French Canadians, but 
in general the territory was but thinly inhabited ; the whole of 
its scattered population scarcely exceeded five or six thousand 
souls. It was near the last of June when this little army reach- 
ed the Rapids, after having experienced considerable obstacles, 
in passing through a gloomy, and almost trackless wilderness. 
They now entered an open and romantic country, and proceeded 
on their march, full of an ardent and adventurous spirit, which 
sought only to encounter difficulties and dangers. The volun- 
teers of Ohio consisted of some of the most enterprising and 
active young men of the state ; finer materials were never col- 
lected. After taking some refreshment here, they loaded a 
schooner with a part of their baggage, in order to lighten their 
march. By some misfortune, intelligence of the existing war 
did not reach the army, until it was on this march, and was 
followed by the news of the capture of the schooner, and a 
lieutenant and thirty men who had been put on board. On the 
5th of July, they encamped at Spring Wells, opposite Sand- 
wich, and within a few miles of Detroit. For some days the 
army had been under the necessity of proceeding with great 
caution, to guard against surprises from the Indians and their 
allies, and who, but for this timely arrival, would have pos- 
sessed themselves of Detroit : they, however, had thrown up 
breast-works on the opposite side of the river, and had made 
an attempt to fortify a position about three miles below. From 
both these holds, they were soon compelled to retreat, by a 
well directed fire from the American artillery. 

This was the favourable moment for commencing active ope- 
rations against the neighbouring province of Upper Canada ; 
and as governor Hull had received discretionary power to act 
offensively, an immediate invasion was determined on. Pre- 
parations for this purpose were directly made, and boats pro- 
vided to effect the passage of the whole army at the same in- 
stant. The British, aware of this design, attempted to throw 
up a battery, for the purpose of opposing the landing. This was 
twice rendered abortive; on their attempting it a third time, 
they were permitted to accomplish it unmolested, as our army 



32 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

General Hull crosses into Canada. 

could either land above or below it, and thus keep out of the 
reach of their guns, which consisted of seven small cannon, and 
two mortars. On the 12th, every thing being made ready, 
the army embarked, and landed without molestation, some dis- 
tance above the fort, and entered the village of Sandwich. The 
inhabitants made no show of resistance, and were therefore re- 
spected in their persons and property ; the principal part, how- 
ever, had been marched to Maiden, for the purpose of aiding in 
its defence. A proclamation was immediately issued by Hull, 
in which he declared his intention of invading Canada, but 
gave every assurance of protection to the inhabitants, whom he 
advised to take no part in the contest. The proclamation was 
written in a spirited and energetic style, and had he been event- 
ually successful, there is no doubt that it would have been 
regarded as an eloquent production. It has been censured by 
the British, as intended to seduce her subjects from their alle- 
giance, as if this were not justifiable in an invading army; and 
as violating the laws of civilized warfare, in the declaration that 
no quarter would be given to any white man, found fighting by 
the side of an Indian. When we consider, that Indians give 
no quarter, there may be as much justice in retaliating upon 
those who are fighting by their sides, as upon the savages 
themselves, for it may be presumed that both are actuated by 
the same intentions. It is not to be supposed that Hull was 
seriously resolved on carrying this threat into execution ; his 
object was to prevent, if possible, the employment of savages. 
It was altogether a suggestion of his own, unauthorized by the 
government, and never acted upon by himself 

In a few days, possession was taken of the whole- country 
along the Trench, or Thames, a beautiful river, whose borders 
are well settled. This service was performed by colonel 
M'Arthur, of the Ohio militia, who returned to camp, afi;er hav- 
ing collected a considerable quantity of blankets, ammunition, 
and other military stores. Colonel Cass was then despatched 
in an opposite direction, towards Fort Maiden, with two hun- 
dred and eighty men, for the purpose of reconnoitering the 
British and Indians. This place is situated at the junction of 
Detroit river with Lake Erie, thirteen miles south of Hull's 
camp. Colonel Cass, following the course of the stream, 
reached the river Aux Canards, about four miles from Maiden, 
where he found a British detachment in possession of the bridge. 
After reconnoitering the situation of the enemy, the colonel 
placed a rifle company under captain Robinson, near the place, 
with orders to divert the attention of the guard, by keeping up 
a fire until the remainder of the party should appear on the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 3S 

Skirmishes on the River Aux Canards. 

opposite side. This part of the detachment, was to have forded 
the river about five miles below. The design was frustrated, 
by their want of a sufficient knowledge of the country ; the de- 
tachment was unable to reach the designated spot, until late 
in the evening. In the meanwhile, the attempt to surprise the 
post had been discovered, and it was strengthened by consider- 
able reinforcements ; notwithstanding which, a smart skirmish 
ensued, and the enemy was compelled to abandon his position, 
after losing eleven killed and wounded, besides several desert- 
ers. Colonel Cass, having no orders to retain possession of it, 
although constituting the principal obstruction between the Ame- 
rican camp and Maiden, thought proper to retire. 

These skirmishes, in which the Americans were generally 
successful, served to inspire confidence, and, together with the 
proclamation, had an effect upon the Canadians, many of whom 
joined our standard, and threw themselves on Hull for protec- 
tion. These were, however, but preludes to the main object 
in view, the reduction of Fort Maiden. Preparations for this 
purpose proceeded slowly ; no artillery was provided for the 
occasion. It was not until the beginning of August, that two 
twenty-four pounders and three howitzers were mounted, and 
no attempt in the meanwhile had been made upon the fort. 
The capture of this place, which would have been necessary in 
the prosecution of any further design, had now become neces- 
sary to self-preservation. A most unexpected disaster had hap- 
pened during the last month ; an event, to which many of our 
subsequent misfortunes are to be attributed. This was the sur- 
render of Michilimackinac. 

On the 16th of July, a party of three hundred British 
troops, and upwards of six hundred Indians, embarked at St. 
Joseph's, and reached the island next morning. A prisoner 
was despatched to inform the garrison, and the inhabitants of 
the village, that if any resistance were made they would all be 
indiscriminately put to death. Many of the inhabitants escaped 
to the British for protection. The garrison consisted of no 
more than fifty-six men, under the command of lieutenant 
Hanks, of the artillery. A flag was now sent by the enemy, 
to the fort, demanding a surrender. This was the first intima- 
tion of the declaration of war, which the garrison had received. 
Until this moment, the American commandant had considered 
this as one of the outrages on the part of the Indians, which of 
late had been frequent ; he had therefore resolved to defend 
himself to the last extremity. He now considered it prudent 
to agree to a capitulation, as there was no hope of being able 
to defend himself successfully, against so great a disparity of 



34 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Taking of Micliilimackinac. 

force. The garrison was accordingly delivered up ; security to 
the property and persons o[" individuals was stipulated, and the 
British put in possession of one of the strongest positions in the 
United States, on that account, sometimes called the American 
Gibraltar. The situation completely commands the northwest 
trade, which is compelled to pass immediately under the guns of 
the fort, and consequently affords the best means of intercepting 
the Indian supplies, and of checking the incursions of those 
restless warriors. The blame of this affair has been thrown 
by some upon the government, by others on Hull : the follow- 
ing facts will enable the reader to judge. Hull reached De- 
troit on the 5th of July, and the fall of Michilimackinac 
took place on the 17th. The distance is two hundred and 
forty miles. That the British at Maiden should have had 
sooner intelligence of the declaration of war, than the American 
general, is less surprising when we consider the wonderful 
activity of those engaged in the Indian trade, as well as the cir- 
cumstances of the regular establishments, all along the lakes. 
Notwithstanding this, it is not easy to account for the tardiness 
with which the news of war was transmitted from Detroit to 
Michilimackinac ; nor was this satisfactorily explained by the 
American general. 

Intelligence of this unfortunate occurrence, which so com- 
pletely changed the face of affairs, reached Hull on the 23d of 
July, while engaged in making preparations for the attack on 
Maiden. The British, by this time, were considerably rein- 
forced, and aided by an additional number of Indians. The 
golden moment had been suffered to pass. It is generally con- 
ceded, that if an assault had been made on the fort in the first 
instance, it must have fallen. This was the opinion of the 
officers : the general, however, declined it under various pre- 
texts. But having neglected this opportunity, there was no 
longer any hope of carrying the place without being provided 
with a train of artillery, and the necessary means for a regular 
assault. The necessity of possessing the post, became every 
day more apparent. With the fall of Michilimackinac, that of 
Chicago, and all the other v/estern posts, might be expected to 
follow, and the Indian tribes would move down with all the 
force of the Northwest Company ; rendering the situation of 
our army extremely critical. In anticipation of these events, 
the general had sent repeated expresses to procure reinforce- 
ments. His confident expectations of those reinforcements, 
may probably be one reason of the slowness of his movements 
against Maiden, contenting himself with carrying on a vigilant 
partizan war, in itself of little consequence. Reinforcements 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 35 

Battle of Brownstovvn. 

M'ere not liastened, from the belief that the force under his 
command, was more than sufficient for all the purposes that 
could be accomplished in this quarter. 

The spirit which had animated the troops in the first in- 
stance, was gradually giving way to the feelings of despon- 
dency ; while their commander had by this time nearly lost 
their confidence. By the 1st of August, every thing being 
made ready for the attack on Maiden, a council of war was 
convened, and the result was a determination to make it im- 
mediately. Desertions from the Canada militia still continued, 
and the whole force was animated with the prospect of under- 
taking an enterprise, which it was believed could not but be 
successful. The cannon was well mounted, and embarked on 
floating batteries. The general had approved the deliberations 
of the council, and the day was actually appointed for carry- 
ing them into execution. 

Some time before this, a company of Ohio volunteers, under 
the command of captain Brush, had arrived at the river Rai- 
sin, with supplies for the army. As their march to Detroit, a 
distance of thirty-six miles, was attended with considerable 
dangers, from parties of the enemy, it was deemed prudent to 
remain here until an escort could be sent to guard them. This 
duty was confided to major Vanhorn, with a detachment of one 
hundred and fifty men. On his second day's march, near 
Brownstown, he was suddenly attacked on all sides by British 
regulars and Indians. His little force made a determined re- 
sistance, and being commanded by a brave and skilful officer, 
Was at length brought off*, with the loss of nineteen killed and 
missing, and nine wounded. Captains Gilcrease, M'CuUoch, 
and Bosler were killed, and captain Ulry severely wounded. 

Scarcely had this detachment left the camp at Sandwich, 
when a sudden and unlooked-for change took place in the deter- 
mination of the commander-in-chief. Without any apparent 
cause, or the occurrence of any new event, he announced his 
intention of abandoning not only the design upon Maiden, but 
even the position which he then held. This operated very 
unfavourably upon the army ; the volunteers murmured ; they 
upbraided their commander with pusillanimity, and even trea- 
chery ; and it was with difficulty they could be restrained by 
their own officers, in whom they confided. The disappoint- 
ment and vexation which ensued, can better be imagined than 
described ; all confidence in their leader was evidently at an 
end: if treacherous, he might deliver them up to be massacred; 
and it was evident he was deficient in the skill and ability ne- 
cessary to command. It was with much reluctance this gallant 



36 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Battle of Magugua. 

little army was compelled to abandon, almost in disgrace, the 
flattering hopes which they thought themselves on the point 
of realizing. They reached the opposite shore on the 8th of 
August, where they received the intelligence of the affair of 
major Vanhorn, of the day before. Such was the termination 
of this expedition into Canada, of whose success, an account 
was every moment expected in the United States. Happy had 
it been if the misfortunes of our arms had terminated here ! 
The enemy's territory was not, however, entirely evacuated ; 
a detachment of about three hundred men was left to keep pos- 
session of Sandwich, principally with a view of affording some 
protection to the Canadians who had been induced by Hull's! 
proclamation to join our standard. 

One thing was now on all hands considered indispensable, 
the opening the communication with the river Raisin. In a 
few weeks, the army might stand in need of the supplies in 
the possession of captain Brush ; and at all events, its situation 
was rendered extremely unpleasant, by being thus cut off from 
all communication with the state of Ohio. To effect this ob- 
ject, a respectable force was detached under lieutenant-colonel 
James Miller, of the United States army, consisting of three 
hundred regulars of the gallant Fourth regiment, which had dis- 
tinguished itself under colonel Boyd, at the battle of Tippecanoe, 
and also about two hundred militia. The enemy, anticipating 
a renewal of the attempt, had sent reinforcements of regulars 
and Indians, so that their force was little short of seven hun- 
dred and fifty men : this force might, moreover, be increased 
during an engagement, from Maiden, which is situated oppo- 
site Brownstown. They had also thrown up a temporary 
breast-work, of trees and logs, about four miles from this town, 
at a place called Magagua, behind which the greater part of the 
Indians, under Tecumseh, lay concealed, waiting the approach 
of the Americans ; the whole commanded by major Muir, of 
the British army. 

On the 9th, our detachment proceeded on its march, but with 
great caution, from the danger of surprise. They, however, 
drew near the ambuscade, before it was discovered ; when sud- 
denly the attack was commenced on captain Snelling, who 
commanded the advance, with the usual barbarous shouts of 
the enemy. This corps, undaunted by this sudden onset, kept 
its ground until the main body approached, when the Indians 
sprang up, and with the regulars furiously advanced to the front 
of the breast- work, where they formed a regular line, and com- 
menced a heavy fire. Colonel Miller, with the utmost celerity 
and coolness, drew up his men, opened a brisk fire, and then 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 37 



Battle of Magagua Taking of Chicago. 

charged. The British regulars gave way, but the Indians under 
Tecuniseh, betaking themselves to the woods on each side, kept 
their ground with desperate obstinacy. The regulars being 
rallied, returned to the combat, which continued for some time, 
with equal resolution. The conduct of our countrymen, on 
this occasion, cannot be too much admired : the stoutest hearts 
might have failed when thus attacked on all sides by more than 
five hundred savages, painted in the most hideous manner, and 
yelling like demons ; engaged at the same time with a body of 
regulars. Disregarding both the savage shrieks and the mus- 
ketry of the British, the American leader repelled their attacks 
on every side, his troops gallantly maintaining their ground 
until the enemy was compelled to yield. They retired slowly 
to Brownstown, literally retreating at the point of the bayonet ; 
here they hastily embarked in boats, provided for their recep* 
tion. Had not this precaution been taken, it is probable the 
whole force would have fallen into the hands of the Americans. 
Their loss was, of the regulars, fifteen killed, and thirty or forty 
wounded; but of the Indians, nearly one hundred were left on 
the field. In this battle, which lasted about two hours, we had 
fifteen killed, and about sixty wounded. The officers who 
chiefly distinguished themselves were captain Baker, lieuten- 
ants Larrabee and Peters, and ensign Whistler. The next day 
at noon, colonel Miller, who kept possession of Brownstown, 
received orders to return to Detroit. This was rendered ne- 
cessary from the fatigue which his command had experienced 
in the engagement of the day before. It was thought more 
advisable to send a fresh detachment to accomplish the ultimate 
object. 

An occurrence took place about this time in another quarter, 
which ought not to be passed in silence. Captain Heald, who 
commanded at fort Chicago, had received orders from Hull to 
abandon that post and make his way to Detroit. He accord- 
ingly consigned the public property to the care of some friendly 
Indians ; and with his company, about fifty regulars, accompa- 
nied by several families, which had resided near this place, set 
out on his march. He had proceeded but a short distance 
along the beach of the lake, when he was attacked by a large 
body of Indians, who occupied the bank. Captain Heald as- 
cended the bank, and fought them for some time, until they had 
gained his rear, and taken possession of his horses and baggage. 
He then retired to an open piece of ground, where he was en- 
abled to keep the Indians at bay. But finding that he would 
be compelled to yield at last, he accepted the offer of protection 
from an Indian chief. Twenty-six regulars were killed, and 

D 



38 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Surrender of General Hull. 

all the militia ; a number of women and children were inhu- 
manly murdered. Captain Wells and ensign Warner were 
among the killed. Heald with his lady, who had received six 
wounds, himself severely wounded, after a variety of escapes, 
at length reached Michilimackinac. 

The victory at Magagua, though brilliant and highly honour- 
able to the American arms, was productive of no essential ad- 
vantage. Two days afterwards, a despatch was sent to captain 
Brush, who was still in waiting for the escort at the River Rai- 
sin, informing him that in consequence of the fatigue of the 
victorious detachment, it had been rendered incapable of pro- 
ceeding fbrther, and that it was become impossible to send a 
sufficient force by the usual route ; that he must therefore remain 
where he was until circumstances should be more favourable?. 
In a postscript, the general advised him that an attempt would 
be made to open the communication in another quarter, by 
crossing the river Huron higher up the country. And accord- 
ingly, on the 14th, colonels Miller and Cass were despatched 
with three hundred and fifty men, for this purpose. Some time 
before this, an express had been received from general Hall, 
commanding at Niagara, bringing information that it was not 
in his power to send reinforcements. 

On the 19th, the British took a position opposite Detroit, 
and immediately set themselves about erecting batteries. On 
their approach, major Denny, who commanded at Sandwich, 
abandoned his position, and crossed over to Detroit, it having 
been determined to act entirely on the defensive. The British 
continued their preparations for the attack. On the loth, a flag 
of truce was sent by them to summon the place to surrender. 
A note to the following effect was directed to general Hull by 
the British commander : " Sir — The forces at my disposal autho- 
rize me to require of you the surrender of Detroit. It is far 
from my inclination to join in a war of extermination, but you 
must be aware that the numerous body of Indians who have 
attached themselves to my troops will be beyond my control 
the moment the contest commences. You will find me dis- 
posed to enter into such conditions as will satisfy the most 
scrupulons sense of honour. Lieutenant-colonel M'Donald and 
major Glegg are fully authorized to enter into any arrangements 
that may tend to prevent the unnecessary effusion of blood." 
This was signed by major-general Brock. 

To this summons an answer was returned, that the fort 
would be defended to the last extremity. The British imme- 
diately opened their batteries, and continued to throw shells 
during a great part of the night. The fire was returned, but 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 39 



Surrender of General Hull. 



with little effect on either side. In the morning, it was dis- 
covered that the British were landing their troops at Spring 
Wells, under cover of their ships. To prevent the landing 
from the fort, at this moment, was a matter impossible ; the 
town lying between it and the river. But if Hull had not 
neglected the advice of his officers, he might have effectually 
prevented it, by erecting batteries on the bank, where they 
would be compelled to debark. A strange fatality seemed to 
attend this unfortunate man in every thing he did, or neglected 
to do. The enemy having landed, about ten o'clock advanced 
towards the fort in close column, and twelve deep. The fort 
being separated from the town, by an open space of about two 
hundred yards, they would be enabled to approach within this 
distance, before its guns could be brought to bear upon them, 
unless they could approach in the rear. The American force 
was, however, judiciously disposed to prevent their advance. 
The militia, and a great part of the volunteers, occupied the 
town, or were posted behind pickets, whence they could annoy 
the enemy's flanks ; the regulars defended the fort, and two 
twenty-four pounders charged with grape, were advantageously 
posted on an eminence, and could sweep the whole of the 
enemy's line, as he advanced. All was now silent expecta- 
tion : the daring foe still slowly moved forward, apparently 
regardless, or unconscious of their danger; for their destruc- 
tion must have been certain, had they not been impressed with 
contempt for a commander, who had so meanly abandoned 
Sandwich a few days before. The hearts of our countrymen 
beat high, at the near prospect of regaining their credit. But 
who can describe the chagrin and mortification which took 
possession of these troops, when orders were issued for them 
to retire to the fort; aixi the artillery, at the very moment 
when it was thought the British were deliberately advancing 
to the most certain destruction, was ordered not to fire ! The 
whole force, together with a great number of women and chil- 
►. dren, was gathered into the fort, almost too narrow to contain 
them. Here the troops were ordered to stack their arms, and 
to the astonishment of every one, a white flag, in token of sub- 
mission, was suspended from the walls. A British officer 
rode up to ascertain the cause. A capitulation was agreed to, 
without even stipulating the terms. Words are wanting to ex- 
press the feelings of the Americans on this occasion ; they 
considered themselves basely betrayed, in thus surrendering to 
an inferior force without firing a gun, when they were firmly 
convinced that that force was in their power. They had pro- 
visions for at least fifteen days, and were provided with all the 



40 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Surrender of General Hull. 

requisite munitions of war. They were compelled thus hu- 
miliated, to march out, and to surrender themselves prisoners 
at discretion. The British took immediate possession of the 
fort, with all the public property it contained ; amongst which 
there were forty barrels of powder, four hundred rounds of 
fixed twenty-four pound shot, one hundred thousand ball car 
tridges, two thousand five hundred stand of arms, twenty-fiv 
pieces of iron cannon, and eight of brass, the greater number 
of which had been captured by the Americans during the re- 
volutionary war. 

The whole territory, and ail the forts and garrisons of the 
United States, within the district of* the general, were also 
formally surrendered ; and the detachment under colonels 
Cass and M'Arthur, as well as the party under captain Brush, 
were included in the capitulation. Orders had been despatched 
the evening before, for the detachment under Cass and M'Ar- 
thur to return, and they had approached almost sufficiently 
near to discover the movements of the enemy, while their ac- 
cidental situation might enable them to render the most 
material service during the attack. They were surprised at 
the silence which prevailed, when every moment was expected 
to announce the conflict ; and that surprise was soon changed 
into rage, when they learned the capitulation. A British 
officer was then despatched to the river Raisin, to convey the 
intelligence to captain Brush, who at first gave no credit to so 
improbable a tale, and actually put the officer in confinement. 
The melancholy story was, however, soon confirmed by some 
Americans who had escaped. Captain Brush indignantly re- 
fused to submit to the capitulation, declaring that Hull had no 
right to include him, and determined to return to the state of 
Ohio. He first deliberated, whether he should destroy the 
public stores, which he had in his possession, and which he 
could not carry away ; but reflecting that this might be used 
as a pretext for harsh treatment to his countrymen, he resolved 
to abandon them. The greater part of the volunteers and 
militia were permitted to return home ; but the regulars, to- 
gether with the general, were taken to Quebec. 

In his official despatch, Hull took great pains to free his con- 
duct from censure. In swelling the account of the dangers 
with which he conceived himself beset, every idle rumour 
which had operated on his fears, was placed under contribu- 
tion, while his imagination conjured up a thousand frightfiil 
phantoms. He magnified the reinforcements under colonei 
Proctor, and gave implicit belief to the story that the whole 
force of the Northwestern Fur Company, under major Cham- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 41 

Surrender of" General Hull. 

bers, was approaching ; nothing, in fact, was forgotten, which 
could heighten the picture, or tend to take tlie blame from 
him. Wliile on the Canada side, it was impossible to effect 
any thing against Maiden, from the difficult^k of transporting 
his artillery. Every thing is difficult to a man who wants the 
necessary talents. The British garrison had been wonderfully 
strengthened, and at this critical moment, general Hall, of Nia- 
gara, announced that it was not in his power to assist him. 
What then could be done but to cross over to Detroit ? that is, 
to abandon the inhabitants of Canada, who had placed them- 
selves under his protection ; to fly, before the enemy had even 
attempted to attack or molest him, and thus encourage them in 
what they would never probably have thought it possible to ac- 
complish. 

But what appears most to figure, in this attempted vindica- 
tion, is the frightful display of Indian auxiliaries. The whole 
" Northern hive," as he called it, was let loose : Winnebagos, 
Wyandots, Hurons, Chippeways, Knistenoos, and Algonquins, 
Pottowatomies, Sacks, and Kickapoos, were swarming in the 
neighbouring woods, and concealed behind every bush, ready 
to rush to the indiscriminate slaughter of the Americans. He 
represented his situation at the moment of surrender, as most 
deplorable. In consequence of the absence of colonels Cass 
and M'Arthur, he could not bring more than six hundred men 
into the field, and he was, moreover, destitute of all necessary 
supplies and munitions of war : yet, by the morning's report, 
his force exceeded a thousand men fit for duty, besides the de- 
tachment which might be expected to arrive, about the time of 
the engagement ; and also three hundred Michigan militia who 
were out on duty, which would make his force upwards of six^ 
teen hundred. This force was much superior to that of the 
British, which consisted of about seven hundred regulars, one 
half of which was nothing more than militia dressed in uniform, 
for the purpose of deception, and about six hundred Indians. 
Every other part of his statement was proved, by the officers 
under his command, to have been incorrect or exaggerated. 
The most ordinary exertion would have sufficed, to have com- 
pletely destroyed the British force. He declared, that he was 
actuated by a desire to spare the effijsion of human blood ! If 
he had designedly intended the destruction of his fellow-citizens, 
he could not have fallen upon a more unfortunate measure ; for 
by thus opening the frontier to the tomahawk of the savage, 
and giving reasons to our enemy for representing us as con- 
temptible in arms, he invited those very savages, which he so 
much dreaded, to throw off every restraint, and declare them- 



42 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Surrender of General Hull. 



selves our foes. He might have foreseen, that a considerable 
force would be sent by the British, for the purpose of retaining 
this province, and that our country would be compelled to suf- 
fer an immense expense of blood and treasure, before our pos- 
sessions here could be regained. Although this afterwards be- 
came the theatre of war, where many of our countrymen gained 
military renown, yet the effect of this lamentable occurrence 
was visible in every subsequent transaction on the borders of 
Canada. 

The sensations produced by this occurrence, throughout the 
United States, and particularly in the Western country, can 
scarcely be described. At first no one could believe an event 
so extraordinary and unexpected ; the public mind was so en- 
tirely unprepared for it, that universal astonishment was occa- 
sioned. Whatever doubts might have been entertained, of his 
being able to subdue the country which he had invaded, there 
were none of his being able to defend himself Never was any 
people more deeply and universally chagrined. This event, 
in a country where every man has a personal feeling for the 
honour and welfare of the nation, naturally awakened the strong- 
est sympathy with the friends and families of the brave soldiers 
who had been thus wretchedly surrendered by their commander. 

The general was afterwards exchanged for thirty British pri- 
soners. Neither the government nor the people were satisfied 
with his defence. The affair was solemnly investigated by a 
court martiaL He was charged with treason, cowardice, and 
unofRcer-like conduct. On the first charge, the court declined 
giving an opinion ; on the two last he was sentenced to death ; 
but was recommended to mercy in consequence of his revolu- 
tionary services, and his advanced age. The sentence was re- 
mitted by the President ; but his name was ordered to be struck 
from the rolls of the army. The general afterwards published 
an elaborate, but hopeless vindication. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 43 



Naval Events Cruise of Commodore Ilodgora. 



CHAPTER III. 



Naval Events— Cruise of Commodore Rodgers— The President chases the Belvs- 
dera— Cruise of Captain Hull— Tlie Constitution captures the Guerriere— Comnio 
dore Porter captures the Alert— Cruise of the President and the Congress— of the 
Argus— The United States captures the Macedonian— The Wasp captures the Frolic 
— Exploits of American Privateers— Results of the Naval Warfare— Sensations 
excited in England. 



The common observation, that evils do not come alone but 
with others linked in their train, was happily not verified, at 
the period of the misfortunes of our arms in the west. The 
nation, overspread with gloom in consequence of this unex- 
pected disaster, was suddenly consoled in the most pleasing 
manner. A new and glorious era burst upon our country. 
The historian will record the fact, that the same year which 
saw prostrated the despot of the land, also beheld the pride 
of the tyrant of the ocean completely humbled. A series of 
the most brilliant exploits, on that element, raised our naval 
renown, to a height which excited the surprise and admiration 
of Europe. 

At the moment of the declaration of war, a squadron under 
commodore Rodgers, had rendezvoused under the orders of the 
government, off Sandy Hook. The squadron consisted of the 
frigates President, Congress, United States, and the sloop Hor- 
net. On the 21st of June they put to sea, in pursuit of a Bri- 
tish squadron, which had sailed as the convoy of the West 
India fleet, the preceding month. While thus engaged, the 
British frigate Belvidera was discovered, to which they instantly 
gave chase. The chase was continued from early in the morn- 
ing until past four in the afternoon, when the President, out- 
sailing the other vessels, had come within gun-shot. She opened 
a fire with her bow guns, intending to cripple the Belvidera, 
which returned it with her stern chasers. The firing was kept 
up for ten minutes, when one of the guns of the President 
burst, killed and wounded sixteen men, and fractured the leg of 
the commodore. By this accident, and the explosion of the 
passing-box, the decks were so much shattered, as to render 



44 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

The President chases the Belvidera Cruise of Captain Hull. 

the guns on that side useless. The ship was then put about, 
and a broadside fired, but without the desired effect, though 
considerable injury was done the Belvidera. This vessel, hav- 
ing thrown overboard every thing she could spare, now gained 
ground. The chase was continued until eleven o'clock at 
night, before it was deemed hopeless. The squadron then 
continued its pursuit of the convoy, which it did not give over 
until within sight of the British channel ; then stood for the 
Island of Madeira ; and thence, passing the Azores, stood for 
Newfoundland, and thence, by Cape Sable, arrived at Boston 
the 30th of August, having made prize of several British ves- 
sels ; but, owing to the haziness of the weather, they were less 
successful than might have been expected. 

The frigate Essex went to sea from New York, on the 3d 
of July ; the Constitution sailed from the Chesapeake on the 
12th ; the brigs Nautilus, Viper, and Vixen, were at the same 
time cruising off the coast ; the sloop of war Wasp was at sea 
on her return from France. 

The Constitution, captain Hull, had sailed from Annapolis on 
the 5th of July. On the morning of the 17th, off Egg Harbour, 
she was chased by a ship of the line, the Africa, and the fri- 
gates Shannon, Guerriere, Belvidera, and jEoIus. These ves- 
sels were approaching rapidly with a fine breeze, while it was 
nearly a calm about the Constitution. At sunrise the next 
morning, escape from the enemy was almost hopeless, as they 
were then within five miles. The Constitution was therefore 
cleared for action, determined to make a desperate resistance. 
The enemy still drawing near, captain Hull resolved to make 
another effort to escape. Boats were sent ahead, with anchors 
for the purpose of warping, there prevailing almost a calm. 
The others finding the Constitution gaining upon them, resorted 
to the same expedient. The chase continued in this manner 
for two days, partly sailing with light breezes, and partly warp- 
ing, until the 20th, when the squadron was left entirely out 
of sight. This escape from so great a disparity of force, was 
considered as deserving a high rank in naval exploits, and 
was much admired at the time, as evincing superior nautical 
skill. The advantage to the British in this chase was consi- 
derable, when we reflect that their foremost vessel had the 
assistance of all the boats of the squadron, for the purpose of 
towing. The superiority of captain Hull, was that of seaman- 
ship alone. This superiority was some time afterwards proved 
in a most remarkable manner ; while naval history lasts, it will 
not be forgotten. 

The Constitution again put to sea, on the 2d of September 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 45 

The Constitution captures the Gucrriere. 

On the 19th, a vessel hove in sight, and a chase instantly- 
commenced. It was soon discovered to be the Guerriere, one 
of the best frigates in the British navy ; and which seemed not 
averse from the rencontre, as she backed her main-topsail, wait- 
ing for the Constitution to come down. This was a most 
desirable occurrence to our brave tars, as this frigate had for 
some time been in search of an American frigate, having given 
a formal challenge to all our vessels of the same class. She 
had at one of her mast-heads a flag, on which her name was 
inscribed in large characters, by way of gasconade, and on an 
other, the words, " Not the Little Belt," in allusion to the broad- 
sides which the President had given that vessel, before the 
war. The Guerriere had looked into several of our ports, and 
affected to be exceedingly anxious to earn the first laurel from 
the new enemy. The Constitution being made ready for 
action, now bore down, her crew giving three cheers. At 
first it was the intention of captain Hull, to bring her to close 
action immediately ; but on coming within gun-shot, she gave 
a broadside and filled away, then wore, giving a broadside on 
the other tack, but without effect. They now continued wear- 
ing, and manoeuvring, on both sides, for three quarters of an hour, 
the Guerriere attempting to take a raking position ; but failing 
in this, she bore up, and ran with her topsail and jib on the quar- 
ter. The Constitution, perceiving this, made sail to come up 
with her. Captain Hull, with admirable coolness, received the 
enemy's fire, without returning it. The enemy, mistaking 
this conduct on the part of the American commander, continued 
to pour out his broadsides with a view to cripple his antagonist. 
From the Constitution, not a gun had been fired. Already had 
an officer twice come on deck, with information that several of 
the men had been killed at their guns. The gallant crew, 
though burning with impatience, silently awaited the orders of 
their commander. The moment so long looked for, at last 
arrived. Sailing-master Aylwin having seconded the views 
of the captain, with admirable skill, in bringing the vessel 
exactly to the station intended, orders were given at five mi- 
nutes before five P. M. to fire broadside after broadside, in quick 
succession. The crew instantly discovered the whole plan, 
and entered into it with all the spirit the circumstance was cal- 
culated to inspire. Never was any firing so dreadful. For 
fifteen minutes the vivid lightning of the Constitution's guns 
continued one blaze, and their thunder roared with scarce an 
intermission. The enemy's mizen-mast had gone by the board, 
and he stood exposed to a raking fire, which swept his decks. 
The Guerriere had now become unmanageable; her hull, rig 



46 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

The Constitution captures the Guerriere. 

ging and sails dreadfully torn ; when the Constitution attempted 
to lay her on board. At this moment lieutenant Bush, in 
attempting to throw his marines on board, was killed by a mus- 
ket ball, and the enemy shot ahead, but could riot be brought 
before the wind. A raking fire now continued for fifteen mi- 
nutes longer, when his mainmast and foremast went, taking with 
them every spar, excepting the bowsprit. On seeing this, the 
firing ceased, and at twenty-five minutes past five sJie surren- 
dered. " In thirty minutes," says captain Hull, " after we got 
fairly alongside of the enemy, she surrendered, and had not a 
spar standing, and her hull, above and below water, so shat- 
tered, that a lew more broadsides must have carried her down." 
The Guerriere was so much damaged, as to render it impos- 
sible to bring her in ; she was therefore set fire to the next 
day, and blown up. The damage sustained by the Consti- 
tution was comparatively of so little consequence, that she 
actually made ready for action, when a vessel appeared in sight 
the next day. The loss on board the Guerriere was fifteen 
killed, and sixty-three wounded : on the side of the Constitution, 
seven killed and seven wounded. It is pleasing to observe, 
that even the British commander, on this occasion, bore testi- 
mony to the humanity and generosity with which he was 
treated by the victors. The American frigate was somewhat 
superior in force, by a few guns ; but this difl^erence bore no 
comparison to the disparity of the conflict. The Guerriere 
was thought to be a match for any vessel of her class, and had 
been ranked amongst the largest in the British navy. The 
Constitution arrived at Boston on the 28th of August, having 
captured several merchant vessels. 

Never did any event spread such universal joy over the 
whole country. The gallant Hull, and his equally gallant 
officers, were received with enthusiastic demonstrations of gra- 
titude, wherever they appeared. He was presented with the 
freedom of all the cities through which he passed on his way 
to the seat of government, and with many valuable donations. 
Congress voted fifty thousand dollars to the crew, as a recom 
pense for the loss of the prize, and the executive promoted 
several of the officers. Sailing-master Ay 1 win, who had been 
severely wounded, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and 
lieutenant Morris, who had been also wounded, was promoted 
to the rank of post-captain. This affair was not less mortify- 
ing to Great Britain, who for thirty years had in no instance 
iOst a frigate in any thing like an equal conflict. 

The public mind was now continually excited by some new 
series of naval exploits. There was scarcely time for one vie- 




BATTLE OF THE CONSTITUTION AND GUERRIERE COMMODORE HULL. 




BATTLE OF THE WASP AND FROLIC COMMODORE JONES. 

See Page 51. 



47 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 49 

Commodore Porter captures the Alert. 

tory to become familiar, before another was announced. On 
the 7th of September, commodore Porter of the Essex, entered 
the Delaware after a most active and successful cruise. He had 
sailed from New York on the 3d of July, and shortly after fell 
in with a fleet of merchantmen under convoy of a frigate. 
Having kept at a distance until night, she cut off a brig with 
a hundred and fifty soldiers on board, which was ransomed for 
fourteen thousand dollars ; the men were disarmed and released, 
on taking an oath not to serve against us during the war. 
The commodore regretted, in his letter to the secretary of 
the navy, that he had not had with him a sloop of war, as 
in this case he could have engaged the frigate, while the con- 
voy were kept employed ; and he could then have captured 
the whole fleet, consisting of several sail, and having two thou- 
sand men on board, including the crew and transports. On 
the 13th of August, the Essex fell in "with the Alert sloop of 
war, and captured her, after an action of eight minutes : the Alert 
had mistaken this frigate for the Hornet, of which she was in 
pursuit, and actually commenced the engagement, by running 
down and pouring a broadside into the Essex. When she 
struck her colours but three men were wounded, but she had 
seven feet of water in her hold. The frigate did not suffer the 
slightest injury. Commodore Porter, being embarrassed with 
his prisoners, who exceeded five hundred in number, concluded 
to convert the Alert into a cartel, for the purpose of effecting an 
exchange. Her guns were thrown overboard, and she was 
ordered to proceed to St. John's, under the command of a lieu- 
tenant of the Essex. The British commander at that place 
protested strongly against the practice of converting captured 
vessels into cartels ; but in this instan-ce was willing, in conse- 
quence of the attention which commodore Porter had uniformly 
shown to British prisoners, to consent to the proposed exchange. 
On the afternoon of the 30th of August, a British frigate was 
seen standing towards the Essex ; preparation was immediately 
made for action, and she stood towards the enemy. Night 
intervening, the Essex hoisted lights to prevent a separation, 
which were answered ; but at daylight, to the mortification of 
the crew, who were anxious to support the cause of " Free 
trade and sailors' rights," the enemy had disappeared. On the 
4th of September, near St. George's banks, two ships of war were 
seen to the southward, and a brig to the northward, to which 
the Essex gave chase, but the winds being light, she made her 
escape. The Essex was afterwards chased by the two ships 
seen to the southward, but escaped in the night by skilful ma- 
noeuvrinsf. 



E 



50 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Cruise of the President and tlie Congress— of the Argus. 

On the 8th of October, a squadron, consisting of the Presi- 
dent, the United States, Congress and the Argus, sailed from 
Boston on a cruise. On the 13th, the United States and Argus 
parted from the rest in a gale of wind. A few days after- 
wards, the President and Congress had the good fortune to 
capture the British packet Swallow, with two hundred thou- 
sand dollars on board, and on the 30th of December arrived at 
Boston, after a very successful cruise. 

The Argus was not less fortunate ; after parting from the 
squadron, she cruised in every direction, between the continent 
and the West Indies, and after being out ninety-six days, she 
returned to New York, with prizes to the amount of two hun- 
dred thousand dollars. She made various hairbreadth escapes : 
at one time she was chased by a British squadron for three 
days, and several times almost surrounded ; she was one mo- 
ment within pistol-shot of a seventy-four, and yet, in the midst 
of all this peril, she actually captured and manned one of her 
prizes. 

The United States, commanded by that distinguished officer 
commodore Decatur, soon after her separation from the squad- 
ron, had the good fortune to add another victory to our naval 
chronicle, not less glorious than that of the Constitution. On 
the 25th of October, off the Western Islands, she fell in with 
the Macedonian, captain Carden, a frigate of the largest class, 
carrying forty-nine guns and three hundred men. The Mace- 
donian, being to windward, had it in her power to choose her 
distance, and at no time were they nearer than musket-shot ; 
from this circumstance, and the prevalence of a heavy sea, 
the action lasted nearly two hours. The superiority of the 
American gunnery, in this action, was very remarkable, both 
for its greater rapidity and effect. From the continued blaze 
of her guns, the United States was, at one moment, thought 
by her antagonist to be on fire ; a mistake of very short dura- 
tion. On board the Macedonian there were thirty-six killed 
and sixty-eight wounded. She lost her mainmast, and main- 
topmast and rnainyard, and was much cut up in her hull. The 
United States suffered so little, that a return to port was not 
necessary : she had only five killed, and seven wounded. 
Among the killed were lieutenant Funk, of whom the commo- 
dore spoke in the highest terms. Lieutenant Allen was on 
this occasion highly applauded. The commodore arrived at 
New York on the 4th of December, with his prize. Decatur, 
already a universal favourite, experienced the same demonstra- 
tions of gratitude, as were made to captain Hull : nor was 
there denied him that new species of praise, which the gene- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 51 



The United States captures the Macedonian .... Tlie Wasp captures tlie Frolic. 

rous conduct of our heroic seamen has uniformly drawn forth, 
the praise of the enemy. All the private property belonging to 
the men and officers on board the Macedonian, was restored to 
the captured with the most rigid exactitude ; and their treatment 
was the most polite and humane. 

The feelings of the nation had scarcely time to subside, when 
the welcome news of another victory was received ; a victory 
over an enemy most decidedly superior in force, and under cir- 
cumstances the most favourable to him. This was the capture 
of the brig Frolic, of twenty-two guns, by the sloop of war 
Wasp. Captain Jones had returned from France, two weeks 
after the declaration of war, and on the 13th of October again 
put to sea. On the 16th he experienced a heavy gale, in 
which the Wasp lost her jib-boom and two men. On the 
evening of the following day, the Wasp found herself near five 
strange sail, and as two of them appeared to be ships of war, 
it was thought proper to keep at a distance. At daylight on 
Sunday morning, they were discovered to be six merchant 
ships, from Honduras to England, under a strong convoy of a 
brig and two ships, armed with sixteen guns each. The brig, 
which proved to be the Frolic, captain Whinyates, dropped be- 
hind, while the others made sail. The Wasp, being prepared 
for action, at thirty-two minutes past eleven o'clock, came down 
to windward in handsome style, when the action was begun by 
the enemy's cannon and musketry. This was returned, and 
approaching still nearer the enemy, brought her to close action. 
In five minutes the main-topmast of the Wasp was shot away, 
and falling down with the main-topsail yard, across the larboard 
fore and foretopsail, rendered her head yards unmanageable 
during the rest of the action. In two minutes more her gaft 
and mizen top-gallant mast were shot away. The sea being 
exceedingly rough, the muzzles of the Wasp's guns were some- 
times under water. The English fired as their vessel rose, so 
that their shot was either thrown away, or touched the rigging 
of the Americans ; the Wasp, on the contrary, fired as she sunk, 
and every time struck the hull of her antagonist. The Wasp 
now shot ahead, raked her, and then resumed her position. 
The Frolic's fire had evidently slackened, and the Wasp, gra- 
dually neared her, until in the last broadside, they touched her 
side with their rammers. It was now determined to lay her by 
the board. The jib-boom of the Frolic came in between the 
main and niizen-mast of the Wasp, and after giving a raking 
fire, which swept the whole deck, they resolved to board. 
Lieutenant Biddle sprang on the rigging of the enemy's bow- 
sprit, where he was at first somewhat entangled, and midship 



52 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

The Wasp captures the Frolic. 

man Barker, in his impatience to be on board, caught hold of 
Biddle's coat, and fell back on the deck, but in a moment 
sprang up and leaped on the bowsprit, where he found one Lang 
and another seaman. His surprise can scarcely be imagined, 
when he found no person on deck, except three officers and 
the seaman at the wheel. The deck was slippery with blood, 
and presented a scene of havoc and ruin, such as has been sel- 
dom witnessed. As he advanced, the officers threw down their 
swords in submission. The colours were still flying, there 
being no seamen left to pull them down. Lieutenant Biddle 
leaped into the rigging, and hauled them down with his own 
liands. Thus, in forty-three minutes, complete possession was 
taken of the Frolic, after one of the most bloody conflicts any 
where recorded in naval history. The condition of this unfor- 
tunate vessel was inexpressibly shocking. The birth-deck was 
crowded with the dead, the dying and the wounded ; and the 
masts, which soon after fell, covering the dead and every thing 
on deck, left her a most melancholy wreck. Captain Jones 
sent on board his surgeon, and humanely exerted himself in 
their relief, to the utmost of his power. The loss on board 
the Frolic was thirty killed and fifty wounded ; on board the 
Wasp, five killed, and five slightly wounded. This was cer- 
tainly the most decisive action fought during the war. The 
Wasp and Frolic were both captured that very day by a British 
seventy-four, the Poictiers, captain Beresford. 

Captain Jones spoke of all his officers and men in handsome 
;erms; but the noble part which he bore in this celebrated 
combat, was touched upon with all that modesty for which our 
naval heroes have been so justly admired. Lieutenant Booth, 
Mr. Rapp, and midshipmen Grant and Baker, were particularly 
distinguished. Lieutenant Claxton, although too unwell to 
render any assistance, crawled out of bed, and came on deck, 
that he might witness the courage of his comrades. A seaman 
of the name of Jack Lang, from Chester county, Pennsylvania, 
a brave fellow, who had been twice impressed by the British, 
behaved, on this occasion, with unusual bravery. Captain 
Jones reached New York towards the latter end of November. 
The legislatures of Massachusetts, New York, and Delav/are, 
of which latter state he was a native, presented him with their 
thanks, and several elegant swords and pieces of plate ; and the 
congress of the United States voted him, his officers, and crew, 
twenty-five thousand dollars, as a recompense for their loss, in 
not being able to bring in the Frolic. He was soon after pro- 
moted to the command of the Macedonian, captured by com- 
modore Decatur. See Engi'aving, page 47 ante. 



HISTORY OF THE WAI^ 53 

Exploits of American Privateers. 

Feats of naval prowess were not confined to national vessels : 
the exploits of private armed vessels daily filled the gazettes. 
Letters of marque were issued soon after the declaration of 
war, and privateers sailed from every port, to annoy and dis- 
tress the enemy's commerce. They were generally constructed 
for swift sailing, an art in which the Americans excel every 
other people. In their contests they exhibited the same supe- 
riority over the vessels of the enemy, as was shown with 
respect to the ships of war. One of the first to sail, was the 
Atlas, commanded by captain Moffat. On the 3d of August 
he fell in with two armed ships, and after a severe action^ 
captured them both, but was not able to bring more than one 
of them into port. 

The Dolphin, captain Endicot, of Salem, in the course of a 
few weeks, captured fifteen of the enemy's vessels, and soon 
became noted for his activity and courage. He had the misfor- 
tune to be captured by a squadron, under commodore Broke, 
and in consequence of the prejudice entertained against priva- 
teers, and the irritation which his exploits had excited, he was 
treated somewhat roughly: this conduct, to the honour of the 
British officers, was soon changed, when they were informed, 
by the prisoners, of the humanity of his conduct. On one occa- 
sion, there happened to be on board one of the Dolphin's prizes, 
an old woman, who had her whole fortune on board, consisting 
of eight hundred dollars ; she made a lamentable outcry at her 
misfortune : but the fact was no sooner known to the sailors, 
than they spontaneously agreed not to touch her pittance ; and 
on arriving in the United States, she felt so much gratitude, 
that she could not refrain from giving publicity to it, in the 
newspapers. It soon became understood, that American priva- 
teers were under the same regulations as national vessels, a cir- 
cumstance in which they differed from those of other nations ; 
that, in fact, private cupidity was not the sole motive in arminsj 
them, but that they constituted a part of our mode of carrying on 
the war, by assailing the enemy in his most vulnerable part ; and 
that the gallantry displayed on board of these vessels, conferred 
almost as high honour on the actors, as that which was won in 
the national ships : there were, therefore, the same inducements 
to correctness of deportment. Thus much may be said in miti- 
gation of this species of warfare, which it is to be hoped will, 
at some future day, be suppressed by common consent. 

Early in the war, one of our oldest and most distinguished 
naval heroes, but who had, for many years, led a private life, 
entered this service. Commodore Barney sailed from Balti- 
more in the Rossie, and, in the course of a few months, did 



54 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Results of the Naval Warfare. 



more havoc in the British commerce, than was experienced 
from the French cruisei^ for years. The fame of this gallant 
officer was already well known to the enemy, particularly as 
the captor of one of their vessels of war of superior force, the 
General Monk, during the revolution. 

Such was the glorious beginning of our naval warfare against 
Great Britain. In the course of a few months, two of her 
finest frigates surrendered, each after a few minutes fighting; 
and a most decided victory was gained over an adversary con- 
fessedly superior. Before the meeting of congress, in Novem- 
ber, nearly two hundred and fifty vessels were captured from 
the enemy, and more than three thousand prisoners taken. 
Upwards of fifty of them were armed vessels, and carrying five 
hundred and seventy-five guns. To counterbalance this im- 
mense loss, the enemy had but a small account. By the cruise 
of commodore Rodgers, our merchantmen had been much aided 
in getting into port, and the number captured was but trifling 
compared to theirs. The Frolic and Wasp, we have seen, 
were captured in a way to give no credit to the captors. Two 
other smaller vessels were also captured by squadrons : the 
first, on the 20th of July, the schooner Nautilus, of twelve 
guns, commanded by lieutenant Crane, captured by the frigate 
Shannon, the leading ship of the squadron. The Vixen was 
captured on the 22d of November, by the Northampton frigate 
Sir James Yeo. Not long after the capture, both vessels ran 
ashore, and were wrecked. Through the exertions of captain 
Reed, of the Vixen, much of the property was saved from 
the wreck ; and, in consequence of his services on the occa- 
sion, he was publicly thanked by Sir James, and permission 
given to him to return home on his parole. This he generously 
declined, as he could not think of receiving any benefits, in 
which his officers and crew did not partake. He accordingly 
accompanied them to Nova Scotia, where he fell a victim to 
the climate. He was interred by the British with the honours 
of war, accompanied by every demonstration of respect to the 
memory of a brave and gallant officer. 

The navy now became the favourite of the nation ; for thus 
far, contrasted with our armies, it was entitled to the most de» 
cided preference. There were not wanting occasions in which 
Qur arms by land had acquired reputation, but they had also 
brought upon us dishonour : on the contrary, the navy, in every 
instance, had added to our national renown. The modesty of 
our naval commanders, in the narratives of the most brilliant 
achievements, and which were read with delight in every cot- 
tage, and spread over the country by the meuns of our thousand 



HISTORY OF TillC WAR. 55 



Sensations excited in England. 



newspapers, was peculiarly pleasing : whereas the proclama- 
tions of our generals were too often filled with idle fustian. 
The British had threatened to drive our " bits of striped bunt- 
ing" from the ocean, and we had been seriously apprehensive 
that our little navy would be at once annihilated ! We, how- 
ever, sought consolation for this, in the prospect of possessing 
Canada, and freeina; ourselves from troublesome neighbours. 
In both instances how greatly disappointed ! The mortifica- 
tion of Great Britain was attended with no alleviation. She 
was wounded in the most vital part. In vain did she seek con- 
solation in endeavouring to hide her misfortune from herself, 
by representing our vessels, in every instance, as greatly supe- 
rior in size, and having every advantage in the various con- 
flicts. This might do with respect to one engagement, but the 
same cause was insufficient to account for her defeats in every 
encounter. The American frigates were seventy-fours in dis- 
guise, and she turned her seventy-fours into frigates, that she 
might contend on equal terms ! But she could not so easily 
account for the superiority in the management of the ships, 
and in gunnery. From the idle boast of being the sovereign 
of the seas (a claim as vain as that to the dominion of the air 
or the light), without whose permission not a sail could be 
spread, she was humbled by one of the youngest maritime 
states, actuated by no ambition of conquest, and merely con- 
tending for the privilege of navigating an element designed by 
the Almighty for the common possession of the human race. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Military Enthusiasm in the West— General Harrison takes command of the North- 
western Army — The Army advances under General Winchester — Expedition to the 
Rapids under General Tupper — Failure of the Expedition to the Rapids — Second Ex- 
pedition to the Rapids under General Tupper — Foray under General Hopkins— Second 
Expedition under General Hopkins — Defence of Fort Harrison— Expedition under Co- 
lonel Russell— Expedition under Colonel Campbell— Security of the Frontier estab- 
lished. 

The public mind having recovered from the distress and cha- 
grin occasioned by the surrender of Hull, was now carried to 
the contrary extreme. A spirit was roused, which produced 



56 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Military Enthusiasm in the West. 



effects not surpassed in the most enthusiastic periods of our 
revokition. To the westward and to the southward, volunteer 
corps were forming in every quarter, and tendering their ser- 
vices for any enterprise which might be undertaken. The 
western parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia exhibited great 
alacrity : but it was in the states of Kentucky, Ohio and Ten- 
nessee, that this generous zeal prevailed in the highest degree. 
Civil pursuits were almost forsaken, while this enthusiasm was 
shared by persons of both sexes and every age. The ladies 
set themselves to work in preparing military clothing and knap- 
sacks for their relatives and friends, and cheerfully contributed 
from their household stock, such articles as their soldiers might 
require. Companies were equipped in a single day, and ready 
to march the next. There prevailed every where, the most 
animated scenes of preparation. The admiration which this 
excites, is not lessened by the reflection that they were but 
acting in self-defence ; for excepting in the remote settlements, 
and merely on the frontier, there was but little to apprehend 
from the Indians : the settlements having become so consider- 
able in the western states, that it would be impossible for the 
enemy to penetrate far. They were actuated by an enthusi- 
astic love of country, a generous spirit, which could not brook 
the thought of being worsted, or that a part of the territory of 
the United States, should fall by conquest into the hands of our 
enemy. 

Louisville and Newport had been appointed as the places of 
rendezvous, for the troops destined to the aid of llull. So 
numerous were the volunteers from Kentucky, who offered 
their services here, that it was soon found necessary to issue 
orders that no mo-re would be received, and many companies, 
thus disappointed, were compelled to turn back. The com- 
mand of the Kentucky militia was assigned to general Payne. 
The same alacrity was manifested in the state of Ohio, which, 
in the course of a few days, embodied an equal force under gene- 
ral Tupper. The Pennsylvania volunteers, under general 
Crooks, were marched to Erie, and a brigade of Virginians under 
general Leftwich, was to join the troops of Ohio, at Urbanna. 
The Kentucky troops, together with the Seventeenth United 
States regiment under Colonel Wells, the greater part of which 
had been enlisted in the Western country since the war, were 
destined for Fort Wayne, and thence for the Rapids, which was 
appointed as the general rendezvous. Thus in a few weeks, 
upwards of four thousand men were drawn out from their 
homes, completely equipped, embodied, and ready for the 
field. The command of this army was given to major-general 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 57 

General Harrison takes command of the Northwestern Army. 

Harrison, who was well known to the Western people, and 
whose recent conduct at Tippecanoe had raised him high in 
public estimation. In order to secure him this rank, a distinc- 
tion of an unusual character, equally honourable to general 
Harrison, and to the person conferring it, who did not resolve 
upon it, however, without consultation and mature reflection, 
he received a brevet commission of major-general, from the 
governor of Kentucky ; and some time after, the command of 
the Northwestern army was assigned him, by a special order 
from the department of war. 

The first step taken by Harrison, was to relieve the frontier 
posts : principally Fort Harrison, on the Wabash ; and Fort 
W^ayne, situated on the Miami of the Lakes, and on the road 
to the Rapids. It might be expected that this fort, as well as 
Fort Defiance, situated lower down, would be attempted by the 
British, in order to obstruct the road to Detroit. Harrison 
arrived at Fort Deposit on the 12th of September, with about 
two thousand five hundred men. 

The Indians who had laid siege to it, disappeared on his 
approach. It had been invested by a considerable body of 
them, who after repeated attacks, from the 6th to the 9th, in 
which they resorted to every stratagem, and s'^veral times 
attempted to take it by assault, were compelled to retire, after 
destroying every thing outside the fort. The garrison con- 
sisted of no more than seventy men. 

After remaining here a few days, general Harrison, not think- 
ing it advisable to proceed to the Rapids until sufficiently 
strengthened by the arrival of the other troops, resolved to oc- 
cupy the intermediate time in laying waste the Indian country. 
Colonel Wells was despatched on the 14th, with his regiment, 
and that under the command of colonel Scott, together with 
two hundred mounted riflemen, against the Pottowatomy town 
on the river St. Joseph, which discharges itself into Lake Mi- 
chigan. Another detachment, under the command of general 
Payne, consisting of colonels Lewis and Allen's regiments, and 
captain Garrard's company, marched against the Miami villages. 
The detachments were in both instances successful : the bark and 
wooden huts of nine villages were destroyed, the inhabitants hav- 
ing abandoned them ; their corn was also cut up, according to 
the mode of warfare practised on these^people by all European 
nations. General Plarrison returned to Fort Wayne about the 
18th, where he found general Winchester, with considerable 
reinforcements from Ohio and Kentucky. This officer had been 
unexpectedly placed in command by the President ; on which 
general Harrison resolved to retire, and set out on his return 



58 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

The Army advances under General Winchester. 

to Indiana, but was overtaken by a messenger, with information 
of the subsequent arrangements by the order of the President. 
On the 23d he accordingly resumed the command. 

The day before his arrival, general Winchester had marched 
for Fort Defiance, on his way to the Rapids, the place of ultimate 
destination. His force consisted of a brigade of Kentucky 
militia, four hundred regulars, and a troop of horse, in all about 
two thousand men. The country which he was compelled to 
traverse, opposed great difficulties, particularly in the transpor- 
tation of stores. Along the heads of the rivers which discharge 
themselves into the Ohio on the south, and those which dis- 
charge themselves into the lakes on the north, there is a great 
extent of flat land, full of marshes and ponds, in which the 
streams take their rise. In rainy seasons particularly, it is 
exceedingly difficult to pass, the horses at every step sinking 
to the knees in mud. The ground, besides, is covered with 
deep forests and close thickets. To facilitate the passage 
through this wilderness, each man was obliged to carry provi- 
sions for six days. General Harrison now proceeded in person 
to Fort St. Mary's, for the purpose of organizing the ulterior 
movements of the army. A detachment under major Jennings 
was ordered to proceed with supplies by the Aux Glaize river. 

General Winchester was obliged to advance slowly, on 
account of the precautions necessary to avoid surprise in a 
country highly favourable for Indian warfare. From the close- 
ness of the thickets, the troops were under the necessity of cut- 
ting open a road each day, and were not able to make more than 
six or eight miles. They usually encamped at three o'clock, 
and threw up a breast-work to guard against a night attack. 
They had the precaution, on their march, to be preceded by a 
party of spies, under an active officer, captain Ballard, and an 
advanced guard of about three hundred men. On the 24th, 
they discovered an Indian trail for the first time, and pursued 
it some distance ; but from the nature of the country, it was 
impossible to overtake the enemy. Ensign Leggett, having 
obtained permission to penetrate to Fort Defiance, still at the 
distance of twenty-four miles, set out accompanied by four 
volunteers. These gallant young men, not being sufficiently 
experienced in such enterprises, were killed the same evening, 
and found the next day by the spies, scalped and tomahawked 
in the most barbarous manner. On the 27th, captain Ballard, 
who had gone before for the purpose of burying the dead, dis- 
covered an Indian trail ; but being aware of the stratagems of 
T,his wily people, instead of following it, he divided his com- 
pany, and marched his men on each side. The stratagem of 



HISTORY OF THE VVAU. 59 



Expedition to the Rapida under General Tupper. 



the enemy being thus frustrated, they rose from' their hiding- 
places, raised the war-whoop, and took possession of an ele- 
vated piece of ground ; but were soon compelled, by the ap- 
proach of the cavalry and the well-directed fire of the spies, to 
betake themselves to the swamps and thickets. The next day, 
while the army was on its march, four Indians fired upon the 
spies ; the general instantly drew up his men, and sent forward 
a detachment of horse, which returning with an account that 
no enemy could be seen, the line of march was again resumed. 
They had not proceeded far, when a trail was discovered, 
which induced the general to cross the river, and shortly after 
another trail was discovered, which was at first supposed to 
have marked the march of colonel Jennings, who had been 
ordered in advance with provisions, and was therefore hailed 
with joy by the troops, who had begun to suffer for want of 
them. The mistake was unpleasantly rectified by the arrival 
of the scouts, who brought intelligence that about two miles 
above Fort Defiance, they had seen the Indians encamped, with 
their war-poles erected, and bloody flag displayed. 

On the eveninsj of the 29th, a messenoer arrived from colo- 
nel Jennings, with the information, that, on having discovered 
the British and Indians in possession of Fort Defiance, he had 
thought it prudent to land about forty miles above that place, 
where he had erected a block-house, and awaited further orders. 
Captain Garrard, with about thirty of his troopers, was despatch- 
ed with orders to Jennings to forward the provisions ; this was 
promptly obeyed. Captain Garrard returned as the escort to a 
brigade of pack-horses, on which they were loaded, after hav- 
ing been for thirty-six hours exposed to an incessant rain. This 
occurrence gave new life and spirits to the starving army, which 
had in the meantime taken possession of Fort Defiance. The 
British and Indians had precipitately descended the river. On 
the 4th of October, general Harrison left the fort, and returned 
to the settlements, with a view of organizing and bringing up 
the centre and right wing of the army ; the left wing having 
been placed under the command of general Winchester. Or- 
ders were given to general Tupper, by the commander-in-chief, 
to proceed immediately to the Rapids, with about one thousand 
men, for the purpose of driving the enemy from that place. 

The intended expedition of general Tupper proved abortive 
The general, in consequence of the damaged state of the am- 
munition, and the length of time requisite to prepare the neces- 
sary provisions, was considerably delayed. In the meanwhile 
the Indians had killed a man on the opposite side of the river, 
and almost within gun-shot of the camp. He beat to arms, and 



60 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Failure of the Expedition to the Rapids. 

ordered major Brush to cross over with about fifty men and 
explore the woods, while a strong detachment would be formed 
for the purpose of supporting him, in case of attack. The 
party had no sooner moved, than all in camp began to break 
away, twenty or thirty together, in order to join in the chase, 
and by no exertion of authority could they be kept back ; so 
totally insensible were they to any thing like regular military 
subordination. Luckily these small bodies were not attacked, 
or they must have been cut to pieces. Immediately after this, 
orders were given by the commanding general, to go in pursuit 
of the Indians, and if possible ascertain their number ; general 
Tupper represented his situation, and requested that the order 
might be countermanded ; but this was answered by a peremp- 
tory command, which he now attempted to obey. This unfor- 
tunately resulted in a misunderstanding between him and the 
commanding general, in consequence of which colonel Allen 
received private orders to supersede him in the command ; on 
this being made known to the corps of Ohio, thqy positively 
refused to march, unanimously set off for Urbanna, and the 
expedition was entirely broken up. 

These are instances of' insubordination much to be regretted , 
but they spring from the want of that kind of habitual obedience, 
and implicit confidence in their officers, incident to raw troops. 
Such are the unavoidable evils attending a militia hastily called 
together, and not kept in a body a sufficient length of time, to 
learn the utility of perfect subordination. 

It was now necessary to wait until the arrival of the other 
divisions of the army, before any thing further could be at- 
tempted against the Rapids, and much less against Detroit. The 
army was at this time accompanied by some friendly Indians, 
whom general Harrison had received into his service at Fort 
Wayne, the greater part under the command of Logan. No 
other course would have prevented their becoming our enemies ; 
it was in vain to expect them to remain neutral, while sur- 
rounded by war. However contrary to our maxims and policy 
to employ such auxiliaries, we were compelled to do so in self- 
defence ; and we afterwards sufficiently evinced, by the conduct 
of those Indians, that it is not impossible to restrain them from 
the commission of acts of barbarity. 

General Tupper, having returned to Urbanna with his 
mounted men, was despatched with the division of the centre, 
which consisted of a brigade of Ohio volunteers and militia, 
and a regiment of regulars, to Fort M'Arthur, while the right 
wing, consisting of a Pennsylvania and a Virginia brigade, was 
ordered to Sandusky. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. • 61 

Second Expedition to the Rapids under General Tupper. 

General Tupper, on his arrival at Fort M'Arthur, organized 
another expedition, for the purpose of proceeding to the Ra- 
pids. This force consisted of about six hundred men ; and 
being provided with five days' provisions, marched on the 10th, 
and on the 13th approached within thirteen miles of the Ra- 
pids, which they found, by their scouts, to be still in the pos- 
session of the British and Indians. A number of boats and 
small vessels were seen lying below. On receiving this infor- 
mation, they advanced within a few miles of the Rapids, and 
then halted until sunset, with a view of crossing the river, and 
making an attack the next morning by daybreak. The rapi- 
dity of the current was such, that their attempts were ineffec- 
tual ; many of the men, who endeavoured to cross, were swept 
down the stream, and it was thought advisable to order those, 
who had actually passed, to return. It was now resolved to 
resort to stratagem, and if possible, to decoy the enemy over. 
For this purpose, early in the morning, they showed the heads 
of their columns, by advancing some distance out of the woods, 
in an open space opposite the enemy's camp. A great confu- 
sion appeared to ensue ; those in the vessels slipped their cables, 
and descended the river, while the Indian women were seen 
scampering off on the road to Detroit. A fire was then opened 
upon the Americans, with musketry and a four pounder. Tup- 
per's stratagem did not perfectly succeed ; but few Indians at 
first seemed disposed to cross, and then acted with great cau- 
tion. A number, however, were observed in a little while 
crossing higher up the river ; being now apprehensive that his 
camp might be attacked, the general thought proper to return. 
He had not proceeded far, when some of the men unfortunately, 
contrary to orders, fired on a drove of hogs, and pursued them 
some distance, and others, equally disobedient, entered a field 
to pull corn. At this moment, a body of mounted Indians 
rushed forward, killed four men, and attacked the rear of the 
right flank. The column, being thrown back, commenced a 
brisk fire, and caused the Indians to give ground. The Indians 
rallied, and passing along the van-guard, made a charge upon 
the rear of the left column : this column was also thrown briskly 
back ; all attempts to break it were unsuccessful, and in twenty 
minutes, the Indians again retired. Conceiving this only 
preliminary to an attack of foot, general Tupper ordered the 
right column to move up in marching order, to prevent the 
attack from beincr made on the risfht flank. Information was 
now received, that the Indians were crossing in considerable 
numbers ; on this, the general ordered the lefl: column to take 
up the marching order, and proceed to the head of the right 
p 



62 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Foray under General Hopkins. 

column, where a number of Indians had already crossed on 
horseback, while others were still in the river, and about two 
hundred on the opposite bank. These, a battalion was ordered 
to dislodge, which completely succeeded in the undertaking, 
many of them being shot from their horses in the river. The 
different charges of the Indians were led by the famous chief 
Split-Log, who rode a fine white horse, from which he some- 
times fired, at other times alighted, and fired from behind a 
tree. The horses appeared to have been much superior to 
those which the Indians generally ride, and they were well 
supplied with holsters and pistols. The Americans were com- 
pelled to return in haste, as their provisions were by this time 
entirely exhausted, and they had to march forty miles before 
they could obtain a fresh supply. 

While these things were taking place in the Northwestern 
army under general Harrison, other events, deserving attention, 
transpired further to the westward, under different leaders. 
We have seen that many of the companies equipped for the 
service of the United States, were dismissed, as exceeding 
the number required, or the number for which supplies had 
been provided. A spirit of volunteering prevailed, which 
reminds one of the enthusiasm of the crusades. Vincennes, 
on the Wabash, was appointed the place of rendezvous for 
an expedition against the Peoria towns, and others situated 
on the Illinois and Wabash rivers. Nearly four thousand 
men, chiefly mounted riflemen, under the command of general 
Hopkins, collected at this place, and early in October pro- 
ceeded to Fort Harrison. This foray was sanctioned by the 
venerable governor Shelby, of Kentucky, and was, perhaps, 
the most formidable in appearance that had ever entered the 
Indian country. 

The army reached Fort Harrison about the 10th, and on 
the 14th crossed the Wabash, and proceeded on its march 
against the Kickapoo and Peoria towns ; the first about eighty- 
miles distant, the others about one hundred and twenty. Its 
march lay through open plains covered with a luxuriant grass, 
which in autumn becomes very dry and combustible. Mur- 
murs and discontents soon began to show themselves in this 
unwieldy and ill-compacted body, which was kept together by 
no discipline or authority.' Every one consulted his own will ; 
in fact, but little could be expected from this " press of chival- 
ry." They had scarcely been four days on their march, when 
they demanded to be led back ; a major, whose name it is un- 
necessary to remember, rode up to the general, and perempto- 
rily ordered him to return ! An idea had begun to prevail 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 63 

Second Expedition under General Hopkins. 

that the guides were ignorant of the country, and that their 
course was the opposite of that which they directed. An un- 
lucky occurrence, towards evening, gave the finishing blow to 
this mighty expedition. A gust of wind had arisen, while 
they were encamped, which blew violently towards them ; 
soon after, the grass was discovered to be on fire, and the 
flames approaching with great velocity. This was supposed 
to be an Indian attack ; it would have been a formidable one, 
had they not set fire to the grass around their camp, and thus 
arrested the progress of the flames. The next morning a 
council of officers was called, and the general, seeing the state 
of the army, or more properly of the crowd, proposed to pro- 
ceed against the Indian towns with five hundred men, if that 
number would volunteer their services, while the remainder 
might return to Fort Harrison. When the proposal was made 
to the men, not one would turn out ; the general having en- 
tirely lost his popularity. He then requested to be permitted to 
direct the operations of that single day ; this being agreed to, 
he placed himself at their head, and gave orders to march ; but 
instead of following him, they turned round, and pursued a 
contrary direction, leaving him to bring up the rear. Finding 
it useless to attempt any thing further with such a body, he 
followed it to Fort Harrison. 

The same officer, some time in November, led another party, 
with more success, against the towns at the head of the Wabash. 
On the 11th, he again set out from Fort Harrison, with about 
one thousand two hundred men ; while at the same time, seven 
boats, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Butler, as- 
cended the river with supplies and provisions. On the 19th, 
he reached the Prophet's Town, and immediately despatched 
three hundred men to surprise the Winnebago towns on Ponce 
Passu creek. The party under colonel Butler came upon the 
place about daybreak, but found it evacuated. This village, 
together with the Prophet's Town, and a large Kickapoo village, 
containing one hundred and twenty cabins and huts, were de- 
stroyed, together with the winter's provision of corn. Until 
the 21st, no Indians were discovered; when they fired on s^ 
small party, and killed a man by the name of Dunn, a gallant 
soldier of Duvall's company. The next day, about sixty horse- 
men, under colonels Miller and Wilcox, being sent out to bury 
the dead, were suddenly attacked by a considerable party of 
Indians ; and, in the skirmish which ensued, eighteen of our 
men were killed, wounded and missing. The principal camp 
of the Indians having been discovered, preparations were made 
to attack it, but on approaching it, the enemy were found to 



64 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Defence of Fort Harrison. 



have gone off. Their situation was remarkably strong, being 
on a high bank of the Ponce Passu, and no means of ascending 
but through some narrow ravines. The inclement season ad- 
vancing rapidly, it was deemed prudent to think of returning, 
particularly as the ice in the river began to obstruct the passage. 
The success and good conduct of this detachment forms a 
favourable contrast with the first, and proves that militia may, 
in time, be trained to the discipline of the camp, so as to be- 
come efficient troops. This corps suffered exceedingly, and 
without a murmur ; many of them were sick, and to use the 
words of the general, many were " shoeless and shirtless," 
during the cold weather of this season. 

We have passed over, without noticing, but with the inten- 
tion of recording in a more distinguished manner, the defence 
of Fort Harrison, which was timely relieved by general Hop- 
kins, on his first expedition. This fort was invested about the 
same time with Fort Wayne, by a large body of Indians, some 
of whom had affected to be friendly, and had, the day before, 
intimated to captain Taylor, that an attack might soon be ex- 
pected from the Prophet's party. On the evening of the 3d of 
September, two young men were killed near the fort ; and the 
next day, a party of thirty or forty Indians, from the Prophet's 
Town, appeared with a white flag, under pretence of obtaining 
provisions. Captain Taylor, suspecting an attack that night, 
examined the arms of his men, and furnished them with car- 
tridges. The garrison was composed of no more than eighteen 
effective men, the commander and the greater part of his com- 
pany having sufi^ered very much from sickness. For some time 
past, the fort had actually been considered incapable of resist- 
ing an attack. About eleven o'clock, the night being very dark, 
the Indians had set fire to one of the block-houses unperceived. 
Every effort was made to extinguish the flames, but without 
effect ; a quantity of whiskey, amongst other stores belonging 
to the contractor deposited there, blazed up, and immediately 
enveloped the whole in a flame. The situation of the fort be- 
came desperate ; the yells of the Indians, the shrieks of a num- 
ber of women and children within, added to the horrors of the 
night, altogether produced a terrific scene. Two soldiers, giv- 
ing themselves up for lost, leaped over the pickets, and one of 
them was instantly cut to pieces. The commander, with great 
presence of mind, ordered the roofs to be taken off the ad- 
joining barracks; this attempt, with the assistance of Dr. 
Clark, fortunately proved successful, although made under a 
shower of bullets. A breast- work was then formed, before 
morning, six or eight feet high, so as to cover the space which 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 65 



Expedition under Colonel Russell Expedition under Colonel Campbell. 



would be left by the burnt block-house. The firing continued 
until daylight, when the Indians retired, after suffering a severe 
loss ; that of the fort was only three killed, and a few wounded. 
The Indians, discouraged by the failure of this attack, thought 
proper to retire, and made no further attempts, until the place 
was happily relieved by the arrival of general Hopkins. In 
consequence of his conduct, captain Taylor was afterwards 
promoted to a majority. 

Another expedition was undertaken by colonel Russell, with 
three companies of United States rangers, and a party of 
mounted riflemen, under g-overnor Edwards, of Illinois. This 
party, consisting of three hundred and sixty men, was destined 
to meet general Hopkins at the Peoria towns, on the Illinois 
river. They were disappointed in this, in consequence of 
what has been already detailed; but they, notwithstanding, 
persevered in their enterprize, and destroyed one of the towns 
known by the name of Pamitaris's town, and pursued the In- 
dians into a swamp in its vicinity, where they had fled for 
shelter. The party waded into the swamp for several miles, 
in some places to the waist in water, and killed upwards of 
twenty of the enemy in this place, on the bank of the river. 
The village, which v/as populous and flouiashing, was com- 
pletely destroyed, together with their winter's provisions. The 
party returned to camp on the 21st of October, after an ab- 
sence of only thirteen days. 

Lieutenant colonel Campbell of the Nineteenth United States 
infantry, was, about the same time, detached against the towns 
on the Mississinewa river, a branch of the Wabash. A town, 
ifthabited by Delawares and Miamis, was surprised on the 17th 
of November ; upwards of thirty persons were taken prison- 
ers, and eight warriors killed. The next morning, at daylight, 
a furious attack was made on the American camp : major Ball, 
with his dragoons, sustained the onset for some time ; and a 
well-directed fire from captain Butler's " Pittsburgh volun- 
teers," compelled the enemy to give way. Captain Trotter, 
of the Lexington troop of horse, charged, and the Indians pre- 
cipitately fled. Captain Pearce, of the Zanesville troop, was, 
unfortunately, killed in the pursuit. Lieutenant Waltz, of the 
Pennsylvania volunteers, was also killed. The officers parti- 
cularly named on the occasion were lieutenant-colonel Sim- 
meral, major M'Dowell, captains Markle, M'Clelland, Garrard 
and Hopkins. The loss in killed on the part of the assailants, 
amounted to forty ; and on our part to eight killed, and about 
thirty wounded. Several of their villages were afterwards 
destroyed. 



66 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Security of the Frontier establisiied. 

Besides these affairs, there were others of less moment, in 
which the militia of Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri territories, 
greatly distinguished themselves. The Indians were now so 
much harassed, that they began seriously to repent of having 
taken up the war-club so hastily ; and their sufferings, during 
the succeeding winter, were not likely to produce any change 
of feeling towards those who had thus urged them to encounter 
their own ruin. The security of the frontier from the murder- 
ous scalping-knife of the savage, was thus, in a great measure, 
effected. The Indians would be compelled to remove to the 
distant British establishments for sustenance, during the win- 
ter, since their means of subsistence were cut off. As to the 
loss of their huts or wigwams, that was a matter of little con- 
sequence to them ; a few days being sufficient to re-construct 
them. Bat by their being thus driven to a distance, with their 
wives and children, they were prevented from annoying the 
settlers, with their fiendlike warfare. Many a peaceful settler 
was saved from their midnight attacks ; and " the slumbers of 
the cradle" were protected from the savage war-whoop. 



CHAPTER V. 



Troops on the Canada Frontier— Capture of the Caledonia— Battle of dueenstown, 
and Death of General Brock— Bombardment of Fort Niagara by the British— Abortive 
attempt of General Smyth— Northern Army— Incursion of Forsythe— of Colonel Pike 
— War on the Lakes — First Cruise of Commodore Chauncey. 

It is now time to turn our attention to the Northern fron- 
tier, that we may take a view of the occurrences on that exten- 
sive line, from Niagara down the St. Lawrence. Towards the 
close of the year, our forces had chiefly concentrated in two 
bodies : one near Lewistown, consisting of some reoulars 
newly enlisted, and militia, amounting to four thousand men, 
under general Van Rensselaer, of New York ; the other, in the 
neighbourhood of Plattsburg and Greenbush, under the com- 
mander-in-chief, general Dearborne. At Black Rock, at Og- 
densburg, and Sackett's Harbour, some regulars and militia 
were also stationed. During the summer and autumn, a num- 
ber of volunteer companies kid marched to the borders, as also 
the new recruits, as fast as they could be enlisted. Bodies of 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 6t 



Troops on the Canada Frontier Capture of the Caledonia. 



regulars were distributed' in each of these places, with officers 
of experience, for the purpose of drilling the raw troops as 
they arrived. It v/as expected that before the month of Octo- 
ber, every thing would be made ready for a formidable inva- 
sion of Canada. Considerable disappointment was, however, 
experienced, in consequence of the refusal of the governors 
of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, to permit 
the militia of those states to march under the requisition of the 
president, on the ground of their being the proper judges, 
under the constitution, of the exigency which might require 
them ; and as they were not friendly to the war, and particu- 
larly so to rendering it offensive, they felt no disposition to 
waive their privileges. Other constitutional objections were 
also urged, which it is scarcely necessary to mention. As the 
militia in those states were better disciplined, and more effec- 
tive, than any in the Union, their absence was severely felt. 
It is highly probable, that had there been a full co-operation on 
the part of- these states with the views of the general govern- 
ment. Upper Canada, at least, would have fallen into our hands, 
in the course of' the first campaign. Military stores had been 
collected at different points ; and general Dearborne, who had 
been appointed in consequence of his experience in the revo- 
lutionary war, was actively engaged, with the assistance of 
such officers as Pike, Boyd, and Scott, in drilling, disciplining, 
and organizing his army. General Smyth, who was consi- 
dered an able tactician, was similarly engaged. Between eight 
and ten thousand men were collected along this extensive line, 
and it was hoped that something might still be done. Skilful 
officers of the navy were also despatched, for the purpose of 
arming vessels on lakes Erie, Ontario and Champlain, in order, 
if possible, to gain the ascendancy there, and to aid the opera- 
tions of our forces. The army under the command of Van 
Rensselaer was called the Army of the Centre, to distinguish 
it from that under general Harrison ; — that under the immedi- 
ate command of general Dearborne, the Army of the North. 

On the morning of the 8th of October, the British brig 
Detroit, formerly the Adams surrendered by Hull, and the 
brig Caledonia, came down from Maiden, and anchored under 
the guns of Fort Erie, nearly opposite Black Rock ; lieutenant 
Elliot, of the navy, conceived the idea of attacking them, and 
sent an express to hasten the seamen, then on the way, and 
who, about fifty in number, arrived in the evening, wearied 
with a march of five hundred miles. Allowing them until 
twelve at night for repose, he then embarked in boats witti 
about fifty volunteers, who joined him, and, crossing the 



08 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Battle of Queenstown. 



river, slipped down to the brigs, suddenly boarded them, and 
took possession, and immediately got under weigh ; but the 
wind not being sufficiently strong to bear them against the cur- 
rent, they were both run aground ; the Caledonia, so as to be 
protected by the batteries of Black Rock ; but the Detroit, after 
being defended, until a considerable part of the military stores 
on board were secured, was set on fire and destroyed. The 
Caledonia was laden with furs to the amount of one hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars. This was effected witli the loss of 
only two killed, and four wounded. 

This affair, having kindled the ardour of the Americans of 
the Army of the Centre, they demanded to be led to the inva- 
sion of Canada, and some of the volunteers threatened to return 
home, unless their wishes were complied with. But this was 
not the ardour of veterans, well acquainted with the dangers to 
be encountered, and despising them ; it was the inconsiderate 
rashness of inexperienced men, ready to anticipate the proper 
moment, but not possessing the firmness to persevere when 
surrounded by unaccustomed terrors. After a conference with 
generals Smyth and Hall, general Van Rensselaer resolved to 
make an attack on the heights of Queenstown. From the in- 
formation he could collect, the enemy's force had been chiefly 
drawn off for the defence of Maiden, as it was supposed, under 
the command of general Brock, who had left the territory of 
Michigan under the government of general Proctor, until he 
could organize a force to return. Could this place be possessed 
by our troops, they would be sheltered from the approaching 
inclemency of the season, and the operations of the Western 
Army much facilitated. Accordingly, at four in the morning or 
the 11th, in the midst of a dreadful north-east storm and heavy 
rain, an attempt was made to pass the river; but, owing to the 
darkness of the night and various unforeseen accidents, the 
passage could not be effected. 

This failure but served to increase the impatience of the 
troops, who became almost ungovernable. Orders were des- 
patched to general Smyth, to advance with his corps, as another 
attempt would be made on Queenstown. Every arrangement 
was rapidly made ; and early on the morning of the 13th, the 
troops embarked, under the cover of the American batteries. 
The force designated to storm the heights, was divided into two 
columns ; one of three hundred militia, under colonel Van Rens- 
selaer, the other of three hundred regulars, under colonel Chris 
tie. These were to be followed by colonel Fenwick's artillery, 
and then the other troops in order. The British, in the mean- 
while, anticipating this attack, had obtained considerable rein- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 69 



Battle of dueeiistown. 



forcements from Fort George, and if necessary, could be still 
further assisted by general Brock, who, it now appeared, com- 
manded at that place. At daylight, as soon as the approach 
of the Americans could be discovered, a shower of musketry 
and grape opened from the whole line on the Canada shore, 
and was returned by our batteries, with the addition of two 
sixes, which, after an extraordinary effort, lieutenant-colonel 
Scott had brought to their assistance from the Falls of Niagara. 
The fire of the enemy, and the eddies in the river, pro- 
duced considerable embarrassment, in consequence of which, 
lieutenant-colonel Christie, who was wounded by a grape- 
shot in the hand, and colonel Mulaney, fell below the in- 
tended point, and were obliged to return. Colonel Van 
Rensselaer, who commanded the whole, and who led the van, 
reached the shore, with only one hundred men, in the midst of 
a most galling fire. He had scarcely leaped on land, when he 
received four severe wounds, which retarded the onset. This 
gallant officer, being still able to stand, though suffering the 
most excruciating pain, ordered his men to move rapidly up 
the heights. Captain Ogilvie assumed the command, seconded 
by captain Wool, who was also wounded, and followed by 
lieutenants Kearney, Carr, Higginan, Sommers, and ensign 
Reeve, of the Thirteenth. Lieutenants Gansevoort and Ran- 
dolph ascended the rocks to the right of the fort, gave three 
cheers, and after several desperate charges, at the head of a 
handful of men, carried the heights, and drove the enemy down 
the hill in every direction. The enemy retreated behind a 
large stone house, and kept up their fire ; but their batteries, 
with the exception of one gun, were silenced. The detachment 
under colonel Christie, on his second attempt, now landed. 
Considerable reinforcements soon after arrived, under captains 
Gibson, M'Chesney and Lawrence ; and colonels Mead, Stra- 
han, Allen, and other militia officers. About this time general 
Brock arrived in person, with the Forty-ninth regiment, six 
hundred strong. Perceiving him approaching to the rear of the 
battery, captain Wool, who commanded at this point, ordered a 
detachment of about one hundred and sixty men to charge. 
The detachment was driven back, but being reinforced, charged 
a second time. Encountering a great superiority of numbers, 
they were again repulsed, and on the point of being driven to the 
very verge of the precipice, when one of the officers, considering 
their situation hopeless, placed a white handkerchief on the point 
of a bayonet, in token of submission, which was instantly torn 
away by captain Wool, who ordered the men to stand their 
ground. At this instant, colonel Christie advanced with a rein- 



70 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Battle of Queenstovvn, and Death of General Brock. 

forcement, which increased the number of the detachment to 
three hundred and twenty. This officer now led on a despe- 
rate charge, and completely succeeded in putting to flight a regi- 
ment twice his numbers, and bearing the name of Invincibles. 
General Brock, exasperated at this conduct, endeavoured to 
rally them, when he received three balls, which terminated his 
existence; his aid, captain M'Donald, at the same instant fall- 
ing by his side, mortally wounded. At two o'clock, general 
Wadsworth of the militia, and colonels Scott and Mulaney 
crossed over. Captain Wool, having been ordered ti) retire to 
have his wounds dressed, again returned to the action. The 
Forty-ninth being repulsed, and the British commander having 
fallen, the victory was thought to be complete ; and general 
Van Rensselaer crossed over, for the purpose of immediately 
fortifying a camp, to prepare against future attacks, should the 
enemy be reinforced. This duty he assigned to lieutenant 
Totten, an able engineer. 

The fortune of the day was not yet decided. At three 
o'clock, the enemy having rallied, and being reinforced by 
several hundred Chippewa Indians, again advanced to the 
attack. At first, our men were disposed to falter, but being 
animated by such leaders as colonel Christie and colonel Scott, 
marched boldly to the charge, and at the point of the bayonet 
once more compelled the British, who were now the assailants, 
to retire. This was the third victory gained since morning, 
and had the contest ended here, it would have been one of the 
most glorious for our country. General Van Rensselaer per- 
ceiving that the men on the opposite side embarked but slowly, 
and fearing another conflict, re-crossed for the purpose of expe- 
diting their departure. Bat what was his astonishment, on 
reaching the American side, when he found that they positively 
refused to embark ! More than twelve hundred men under 
arms were drawn up on the bank, where they remained as idle 
spectators of the scene, and neither commands nor entreaties 
could prevail on them to move. They planted themselves on 
their constitutional privilege ; the same men, who a few days 
before had expressed so much impatience that their ardour was 
restrained. It seems that this boiling ardour had suddenly been 
cooled, by what they had witnessed on the opposite shore. 

At four o'clock, the British being reinforced by eight hundred 
men from Fort George, renewed the engagement with fresh 
vigour. General Van Rensselaer, perceiving that our men 
were now almost exhausted with fatigue, and their ammunition 
nearly spent, was compelled, under the most painful sensations, 
to address a note to general Wadsworth, commvnicating the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 71 

Battle of dueenstown. 

unexpected circumstance, and giving him permission to consult 
liis own judgment ; and at the same time he despatched a number 
of boats, that in case it should be so resolved, he might return 
with his troops to the American side. A desperate contest soon 
followed, which was kept up for half an hour, by a continued 
discharge of musketry and artillery ; when our troops were 
gradually overpowered by numbers, their strength rapidly de- 
clining, and their hopes being subdued by the information they 
had by this time received. The militia attempted to re-embark, 
but in this they were frustrated. It being impossible to hold 
out any longer, and more overcome by the apathy of their 
countrymen, who stood looking coldly on, than by the strength 
of their foes, they at length surrendered themselves prisoners 
of war. During the greater part of the engagement with the 
last reinforcement, the regulars, not more than two hundred and 
fifty in number, bore the brunt of the action entirely alone. 
The prisoners were generally treated well by the British, but 
they imposed no restraint on their allies, who proceeded im- 
mediately to the work of stripping and scalping the slain, and 
even many of the wounded. Amongst other indignities which 
these wretches were not restrained from committing, were those 
offered to the body of ensign Morris, brother to our naval hero. 
Contrasted with this, it is worthy of being mentioned, that the 
"uns of the American fort were fired durinjr the funeral cere- 
mony of general Brock, a brave and generous enemy. Even 
savages, had they chosen to inquire the meaning of this, ought 
to have learned a lesson of humanity, which their civilized allies 
could not teach. 

Every officer who crossed the river, it is said, distinguished 
himself. Colonel Scott, afterwards so highly distinguished, con- 
tinued the greater part of the day in the hottest of the fight, and 
although dressed in uniform, and of a tall and elegant stature, 
did not receive the slightest wound. Several Indians afterwards 
declared that they had taken deliberate aim at him. A volun- 
teer company of riflemen under lieutenant Smith, who took 
prisoner an Indian chief, when the enemy rallied a second 
time, was much distinguished. Lieutenant colonel Fenwick 
was severely wounded, but never left the ground during the 
action. Captains Gibson, Wool, and M'Chesney, were highly 
complimented by the general. The loss of the British and 
Indians is not exactly known ; ours must have been at least one 
thousand in killed, wounded and prisoners. The greater part 
of the prisoners were taken to Montreal. 

During the embarkation of the troops at Lewistown, a fire 
was opened from Fort George on the American Fort Niagara 



72 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Bombardment of Fort Niagara by the Pritisii. 



which was returned and kept up during the day on both sides. 
The battery commanded by captain M'Keon, which was man- 
ao^ed with ability, set fire to several houses near the British fort. 
A twelve pounder happening to burst, and at the same time the 
opposite garrison beginning to throw shells, captain Leonard 
thought it prudent to leave the fort; but soon after, perceiving 
the British about to cross, he returned with a guard of twenty 
men, and kept possession during the night. The next evening 
lie was joined by the remainder of the garrison. Three days 
afterwards the British batteries below Fort Erie, opened a fire 
on the camp at Black Rock. One of the barracks was de- 
stroyed by a shell, which blew up the magazine, but no lives' 
were lost. 

The garrison of Niagara, having been considerably reinforced 
was again attacked on the 21st, from the batteries of Fort 
George. These places are situated nearly opposite each other, 
and at the entrance of the Niagara. The cannonading continued 
from sunrise until dark, the enemy throwing upwards of three 
thousand red-hot shot, and upwards of two hundred shells ; several 
of the barracks and adjoining buildings were fired, but, through 
the indefatigable exertions of Major Armistead, of the United 
States artillery, the fire was repeatedly extinguished. Colonel 
M'Feeley, who commanded the fort, ordered the different bat- 
teries to open ; and the enemy's fire was returned with interest. 
Several houses in Newark, and about the fort, were burnt ; a 
schooner lying under its guns was sunk, and one of their bat- 
teries for a time completely silenced. Captain M'Keon com- 
manded in the southeast block-house, and captain Jack, of the 
militia artillery, in the northeast, the situation most exposed. 
The different batteries were commanded by lieutenants Rees 
and Hendal, both of which were very destructive. Lieutenant 
Gansevoort commanded the Salt battery ; Doctor Cooper, of 
the militia, had the command of a six-pounder. Lieutenant 
Rees having been wounded, his place was taken by captain 
Leonard, during the remainder of the day. During this severe 
bombardnaent, we had only four killed, and a small number 
wounded, among whom was lieutenant Thomas. Colonel 
M'Feeley spoke in high terms of colonel Gray, major Armi- 
stead, captain Mulligan, and all the other officers and men. 
Such was their ardour, that having expended their wadding, 
the officers tore off their shirts and the soldiers their pantaloons 
to be used for that purpose. An extraordinary instance of fe- 
male bravery occurred on this occasion. The wife of a com 
mon soldier, of the name of Doyle, taken prisoner at Queens- 
town, and carried to Montreal, determined to revenge the 



HISTORY Or TilK WAR. 73 



Abortive attempt of General Smyth. 



treatment of her husband, volunteered her services, and ob- 
tained permission to assist at one of the batteries, where she 
continued to serve hot shot until the last gun was fired, although 
the enemy's shells continually fell around her, and every mo- 
ment threatened destruction. 

Shortly after the unfortunate battle of Queenstown, General 
Van Rensselaer resigned the command, which devolved on 
brigadier-general Smyth, of the United States army. General 
Smyth announced his determination of retrieving the honour of 
the American arms, by another attempt on the British batteries 
and entrenchments on the opposite side. He conceived that 
the former attack had not been conducted with judgment, in the 
selection of the point of debarkation, directly in the face of their 
batteries, whereas it ought to have been between Fort Erie and 
Chippewa. This he had at first recommended to general Van 
Rensselaer, and to the neglect of his intimation he attributed 
the failure of the former attempt. Having now the sole com- 
mand, and being at liberty to carry into execution his own plan, 
he set about preparing a force for the purpose; that which he 
then had under his command being insufficient. As the most 
effectual mode to accomplish this, he issued a proclamation 
appealing to the public feeling and patriotism of the American 
people, and inviting volunteers from every part of the country. 
Every topic which could influence the hearts and minds of the 
people, was strongly urged : they were reminded of the exploits 
of their ancestors of the revolution ; of the little honour which 
had thus far attended the prosecution of the war ; the recent 
failure, and the disgraceful surrender of Hull. They were 
told that even the Indians of the friendly Six Nations had offered 
their services, but that, through regard to the cause of humanity, 
he had refused to follow a disgraceful example, by letting loose 
these barbarous warriors upon the inhabitants of Canada. He 
then addressed himself particularly to the " Men of New-York," 
appealing to their patriotism, calling on them to retrieve the 
late disaster, and at the same time, by this step, secure their 
wives and children from the predatory and murderous incur- 
sions of the savage. This address was well calculated to reach 
the feelings of the moment, although eccentric in its style, and 
in some respects reprehensible, particularly in the reflections 
indulged at the expense of others. Moreover, it was not dic- 
tated by prudence as respected himself; for in the event of a 
failure, he would naturally be exposed to ridicule, for what 
would then be termed a pompous and inflated rhodomontade. It 
was, however, not without some effect ; particularly when se- 
conded by an animated proclamation from general Porter, of 



74 BKACKENRiDGK'S 



Abortive attempt of General Sn)ytl>- 



the New-Yoi'k militia. About the 27th of November, upwards 
of four thousand live hundred men, consisting of regulars, and 
the volunteers from Pennsylvania, New-York and Baltimore, 
were collected at Buffalo ; and the officers were actively en- 
gaged in drilling, equipping and organizing them for the in- 
tended enterprise. 

Seventy boats, and a number of scows, were prepared for 
the reception of the army, that they might be at once transport- 
ed to the Canadian shore. But preparatory to the principal 
attack, two detachments, one under colonel Boerstler, and an- 
other under captain King, received orders to pass over before 
day : the first to destroy a bridge, about five miles below Fort 
Erie, and capture the guard stationed there ; the other to storm 
the British batteries. Before they reached the opposite shore, 
the enemy opened a heavy fire ; the first detachment landed and 
took some prisoners, but failed in destroying the bridge. The 
other, under captain King, landed higher up at the Red House, 
drove the enemy, and then advanced to their batteries, which 
they stormed, and then spiked the cannon. Lieutenant Angus, 
with a number of marines, accidentally separated from captain 
King, and no reinforcements arriving from the opposite side, 
they concluded that King and his party had been taken prison- 
ers, and therefore returned. The party of King, now consist- 
ing of seventeen, besides captains Morgan and Sprowl, and 
five other ofiicers, was in full possession of the works, while 
the enemy was completely dispersed. Finding, at length, that 
they could not expect to be supported, they resolved to return. 
But one boat could be found, to transport them all. Captains 
Sprowl and Morgan passed over with the prisoners ; leaving 
captain King, who was soon after, with his small party, sur- 
rounded and taken prisoner. On the return of captain Sprowl, 
colonel V/inder was ordered to pass over with about three hun- 
dred men. He instantly embarked and led the van. His own 
boat was the only one which touched the opposite shore, the 
others having been swept down by the swiftness of the current. 

From various causes the embarkation of the main body was 
retarded much beyond the appointed time, so that it was twelve 
o'clock in the day, when about two thousand men were ready 
to move. General Tannehill's volunteers, and colonel M'ChuVs 
regiment, were drawn up ready for a second embarkation. 
The enemy by this time had collected on the opposite shore, 
and appeared ready to receive them. The departure of our 
troops was, in the most unaccountable manner, delayed until 
late in the afternoon, when orders were given to debark. Much 
murmuring and discontent ensued ; which were in some mea- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 75 



Abortive attempt of General Smyth Northern Army. 



ure silenced, by assurances that another attempt would be made. 
It was now resolved to land about five miles below the navy 
yard ; and accordingly, on Monday evening, the 29th, all the 
boats were collected tor the purpose. The whole body, with 
the exception of about two hundred men, were embarked 
at four o'clock ; the' men conducting themselves with great 
order and obedience, and affording every hope of success. 
Nothing was wanting but the word to move ; when, after some 
delay, orders were suddenly given for the whole to land, ac- 
companied with a declaration, that the invasion of Canada was 
given over for that season, while arrangements were made to 
go into winter quarters. One universal expression of indigna- 
tion burst forth ; the greater part of the militia threw down 
their arms, and returned to their homes, and those who re- 
mained continually threatened the life of the general. Severe 
recriminations passed between him and general Porter, who 
accused him of cowardice and of unoflicer-like deportment. 
General Smyth, in vindication of his conduct, alleged that he 
had positive instructions not to risk an invasion with less than 
three thousand men, and that the number embarked did not ex- 
ceed fifteen hundred. Be this as it may, great dissatisfaction 
was produced through the country, and his military reputa- 
tion, from that time, declined in public estimation. Through- 
out the whole of this year, we were continually suffering the 
effects of our total want of experience in war. Every thing 
seemed to baffle our calculations, and to disappoint our hopes, 
particularly in our movements against Canada, although many 
acts of gallantry were performed both by regulars and militia. 
It is now time to turn our attention to the Northern Army, 
collecting on the borders of the St. Lawrence. But little was 
done in this quarter, until late in the autumn. At the declara- 
tion of war, but a small number of troops were stationed at any 
point along this frontier ; and it would necessarily require a 
considerable length of time before the militia could be embodied 
and marched, or the regular troops, newly enlisted or already 
on foot, could be collected from over an immense surface of 
country such as ours. It was confidently expected that the 
upper provinces of Canada would fall an easy conquest to our 
troops of the Northwestern Army, and of the Army of the Centre, 
which might then move down, and join those on the St. Law- 
rence, and, long before the winter, the war would be carried to 
Montreal. But the unlooked-for and lamentable surrender of 
Hull produced a total change in the situation of affairs. It 
was not until late in the autumn, that any thing worthy of note 
occurred in the Northern Arm v. 



76 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Northern Army • • Incursion of Forsythe — of Colonel Pike. 

On the 15th of September, twenty-five barges of the British 
passed up the St. Lawrence, and were attacked by a party of 
mihtia from Ogdensburg, and after a severe contest, the enemy 
were forced to abandon their boats, and fly for shelter to the 
woods ; but soon after, receiving reinforcements, they compelled 
the militia to retire. Some time after this, captain Forsythe made 
an incursion into the enemy's country, with a party of his rifle- 
men, and after twice defeating a body of regulars of superior 
numbers, burnt a block-house, containing the public stores, 
and returned with the loss of only one man. In revenge for 
that attack, the British, on the 2d of October, determined 
to attempt the destruction of Ogdensburg. A heavy fire was 
opened from the breast-works, at the village of Prescott, situa- 
ted nearly opposite. On the 4th, they attempted to cross 
the St. Lawrence, and storm the town, and embarked in forty 
boats, with about fifteen men in each ; but they were warmly 
received by general Brown, of the New York militia, who 
commanded here in person. A sharp action continued for 
nearly two hours, when they were compelled to abandon their 
design, leaving one of the boats in our hands, and suffering a 
considerable loss. 

Colonel Pike, to whose zeal and indefatigable exertions 
the army was even at this time much indebted, on the 19th 
passed into the enemy's territory, surprised a block-house de- 
fended by a considerable body of English and Indians, put them 
to flight, and destroyed the public stores. Skirmishes like 
these were not unfrequent until the close of autumn, and even 
occurred during the winter ; but nothing of moment transpired 
in this quarter, until the beginning of the year. 

A new scene of warfare was about to open upon those vast 
inland seas, which constitute so remarkable a feature of our 
continent. For the first time, their waves were to be lighted 
up with all the sublimity of naval combat : and they soon bore 
witness to achievements as glorious as those which immortaliz- 
ed our heroes on the ocean. In consequence of the failure of 
our arms at Detroit, it became necessary to form a navy on the 
lakes. We were now without a single armed vessel on Lake 
Erie, and our whole force on Lake Ontario was the brig Oneida, 
sixteen guns, commanded by lieutenant Woolsey. In October, 
commodore Chauncey, with a body of seamen, arrived at Sack- 
ett's Harbour, for the purpose of carrying this design into effect ; 
he instantly purchased every trader capable of being fitted up 
as a vessel of war, and ordered lieutenant Elliot, as we have 
seen, to organize a naval force on Lake Erie. That his pre- 
parations proceeded with rapidity, cannot be doubted, when we 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 77 



War on the Lakes First Cruise of Commodore Cliauncey. 



find, that on the 6th of November he considered himself able to 
contend with the enemy's whole force. Having received infor- 
mation that the enemy's fleet had sailed down the lake, for the 
purpose of bringing up the reinforcements to Fort George, he de- 
termined to intercept him at the False Ducks, on his way up. 
The force of Commodore Chauncey, created in this short space 
of time, was composed of the Oneida, fourteen guns, in which 
he sailed ; the Governor Tompkins, lieutenant Brown, six guns; 
the Growler, lieutenant Mix, of five guns ; the Conquest, lieuten- 
ant Elliott, of two guns ; the Pert, Arundel, of two guns ; and the 
.Tulia, Trant, of one thirty pounder ; making in all thirty-two 
guns. The vessels of the enemy, which were supposed to 
have passed up the lakes, constituted nearly the whole force of 
the British, and consisted of the Royal George, twenty-six guns; 
ship Earl Moira, eighteen guns ; schooner Prince Regent, 
eighteen guns ; Duke of Gloucester, fourteen guns ; Tarento, 
fourteen guns ; Governor Simcoe, twelve guns. 

On the 8th, the squadron fell in with the Royal George, but 
lost sight of her during the night, having chased her into the 
bajr of Quanti. In the morning she was discovered in King- 
ston channel. The commodore had made up his mind to board 
her ; but the wind blowing directly in, and the enemy being 
too well protected by the guns of the batteries, he changed his 
intention. The next morning he beat up in good order, and 
commenced an attack on the Royal George, under a heavy fire 
both from this ship and from the batteries. The Conquest, the 
Julia, the Pert, and the Gro\vler pushed forward in succession ; 
afterwards the brig General Hamilton, and the Governor Tomp- 
kins ; shortly after, the whole fire of the batteries was turned 
upon the brig, and continued hot on both sides for an hour, 
when the Royal George cut her cables, and ran higher up the 
bay. The squadron now being exposed to the cross fire of the 
batteries, and not deeming it prudent to pursue the Royal 
George, hauled off to the wind, and made sail out of the bay. 
This was certainly a most daring exploit, and, to say the least 
of it, merited success. The Royal George suffered severely 
in her hull ; the shot from the gun-vessels struck her frequently, 
while the loss of Commodore Chauncey was very inconsider- 
able. The commander of the Pert, Arundel, was wounded by 
the bursting of a gun, but refusing to quit the deck, was 
knocked overboard and drowned. The commodore captured 
a schooner off the harbour, and sent the Growler as her convoy 
past the entrance, for the purpose of decoying the Royal 
George, but without success. She then sailed with her prize 
for Sacket's Harbour. On her way she discovered the Prince 



78 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

War on the Lakes First Cruise of Commodore Cliauncey. 

Regent and Earl Moira, convoying a sloop to Kingston ; she im- 
mediately concealed herself behind a point, and when the armed 
vessels had passed, she ran out and captured the schooner and 
brought her into Sacket's Harbour. The prize had on board 
twelve thousand dollars in specie, and the baggage of gen- 
eral Brock, with Captain Brock, the brother of that officer. 
Commodore Chauncey, soon after arriving, received the intelli- 
gence respecting the Earl Moira, and immediately set off" in 
the inidst of a severe storm, to intercept her at the False Ducks; 
but returned to the Harbour without being able to fall in with 
her. 

He now occupied himself chiefly in superintending the new 
ship Madison, which was launched on the 26th of November. 
The winter set in soon after, and put an end to any further 
naval incidents for the season. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Meeting of Congress— Proposal of an Armistice— Reverses of Napoleon— Measures 
for carrying on the War— Blockade of our Coasts— War with the Southern Indians 
— Tecumseh's Visit to the Creeks— War with the Seminoles— Third Naval Victory 
over a British Frigate (the Java)— Disasters of our Arms to the West. 



The congress of tlie United States again assembled on the 
4th of November, after a recess unusually short, on account 
of the new and interesting state of our affairs. Party spirit 
unfortunately raged amongst us, in a very high degree, and it 
was not difficult to foretell that no small portion would find 
its way into the national councils. Recriminations of French 
influence, and improper submission to the outrages of Great 
Britain, very much embittered this animosity. The existence 
of party spirit is necessary and healthful to our political sys- 
tem ; it is like the current of the stream, which preserves it pure 
and untainted. In despotisms there is no party spirit ; there 
all is conducted in the darkness and secrecy of intrigue. But 
party has its evils. In peace, it renovates the flagging energies 
of the nation, and keeps all things pure and sound ; on the con- 
trary, in a period of war, this animosity may clog the efforts of 
the party in power, and may be a useful ally to the enemy. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 79 

Meeting of Conjjress Proposal of an Armistice. 

Unfortunately there prevailed a strong disposition to thwart the 
measures of the administration, and in this way compel it to 
sue for peace, without perhaps sufficiently reflecting, that the 
enemy might not be disposed to grant it, upon other terms than 
sucli as would be disgraceful to the nation. It is not becoming 
a true lover of his country, to desire that the government, with 
which the nation, as respects others, is identified, should be dis- 
graced, in order that the powder may be transferred to better 
hands. This would not have been the maxim of the patriot 
Washington. But on this subject it is difficult, if not impossi- 
ble, to draw the exact Hne between a manly and laudable op- 
position to what we conceive to be wrong, and such factious 
intemperance as may endanger the character and safety of the 
country. In the eastern states, the opposition to the war was 
the most violent. 

The administration, at an early period of the war, had mani- 
fested a wish for its termination, could it be done consistently 
with prudence. About the time of the declaration of war by 
this country, the Prince Regent had repealed his orders in 
council, one of the principal causes of hostilities : an act, which 
was by no means dictated by a sense of what was due to justice 
and to us, but by the urgency of the particular interests of 
Great Britain. Having repealed them, he considered himself 
entitled to the same regard as if they had been expressly re- 
pealed on our account, and demanded that hostilities, on our 
part, should cease. To this the President replied, that being 
now at war, the United States would not put an end to hostili- 
ties, unless provision were made for a general settlement of 
differences, and a cessation of the practice of impressment, 
pending the negotiation. In the meantime, a law would be 
passed forbidding the employment of British seamen in our ves- 
sels, of whatsoever kind. A law to this effect was passed during 
the session. 

Shortly after the commencement of the war, a proposition 
for an armistice had been made by the governor of Canada, 
but was rejected as a matter of course. The American min- 
ister in London was authorised to agree to a cessation of hos- 
tilities, even on the unofficial assurance that the practice of im- 
pressment would be discontinued, during the armistice. This 
was rejected. A proposition was afterwards made by admiral 
Warren ; which required as a preliminary to every other step, 
that our armies should be immediately withdrawn, and the 
orders to our cruisers recalled. This he alleged, was in con- 
sequence of our being the aggressors, and that as such it be- 
came us to take the first step, and unconditionally throw down 



80 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Reverses of Napoleon. 

our arms. Here it might have been asked, whether this country 
had ever experienced so much good faith and forbearance from 
Great Britain, as to justify such confidence 1 But was she 
not the aggressor, by her own acknowledgement ? for, by the 
repeal of the orders in council, if on our account, she acknow- 
ledged herself to have violated our neutral rights. Moreover, 
it was well known that she had, at that moment, more than 
two thousand impressed American seamen, confined as prisoners 
of war, and persisted in refusing every arrangement which 
might remedy in future the odious practice. So strangely in- 
consistent are the pretexts of injustice. These attempts at 
reconciliation had failed, when the emperor of Russia inter- 
posed his mediation ; which, on the part of our government, 
was instantly accepted ; but, on being made known to England, 
was declined, as being incompatible with her naval interests. 
She professed a willingness, however, to enter into a direct 
negotiation ; which, it will be seen, was merely thrown out as 
a pretext, to prolong the war at her pleasure. 

A most important change had taken place in the affairs of 
Europe. Napoleon had experienced a reverse, proportioned to 
the vastness of his designs. This man, intoxicated with his for- 
mer success, and with the vile flattery which is always paid to the 
despot who is the fountain of honour, and official emolument and 
power, had begun to thiak himself more than mortal. It is 
thought that he had conceived the idea of universal empire ; natu- 
rally enough the ultimate object of a conqueror — for what con- 
queror ever set bounds to his ambition 1 The vanity of the 
scheme, if any such ever entered his head, of bringing all Europe 
to his feet, of mastering the fleet of England, and then extending 
his power over the globe, was now fully demonstrated. The joy 
which many of our fellow citizens expressed on this occasion, 
was perhaps ill judged. The fall of a despot and a tyrant," is cer- 
tainly an agreeable theme to a republican ; but the immediate 
connexion of this event with our welfare, was not easily traced. 
It was very evident that the enmity of both France and England 
towards this country, proceeded from the same cause; and, 
considering human nature, a very natural cause ; to wit, the 
circumstance of our prospering and growing rich from their 
dissensions. We had but little to fear that we should be 
molested by any European power, attempting to conquer our 
vast country ; and as to universal dominion, England, in her 
claim to the sovereignty of the seas, already possessed it, as 
far as the thing, in its nature, was capable of being possessed. 
As to Europe, the mad attempt of Napoleon had been followed 
by an overthrow so complete, that so far from being dangerous 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 81 

Measures for carrying on the War Blockade of our Coasts. 

to its repose in future, it became a matter of doubt with enlight- 
ened politicians of the day, whether he would be able to maintain 
his own ground, and whether, if France were reduced to a se- 
cond-rate power, Europe would not have to fear a more for- 
midable enemy in Russia. Nothing but the pacific temper of 
its present sovereign, would be a guarantee to the safety of the 
neighbouring nations. The consequence of the rapid decline 
of the power of Napoleon, would be highly favourable to Eng- 
land, in the disposal of her forces against this country ; and 
elated by her success against France, it was not probable that 
she would feel much disposition to treat with us on reasonable 
terms. 

The first business, on the meeting of congress, with a view 
to the war, which now occupied its chief attention, was the 
providing an additional force. Enlistments had been extremely 
slow, and sufficient encouragement had not been held out for 
recruits. It was proposed to receive into the service of the 
United States, twenty thousand volunteers, for a year, to be 
clothed and paid in the same manner as regular troops. The 
inefficacy of mere militia, under no discipline, and under no 
control, had been sufficiently seen, both during the present and 
the revolutionary war. But there was no mode of remedying 
ihe evil ; for regular soldiers could not be raised, or at least, in 
sufficient numbers. 

The navy attracted much attention. On this subject there 
prevailed the most perfect unanimity ; and it was resolved, that 
it should be fostered, as the best and safest reliance of our 
country. Such as had once been inimical to it, became its 
warmest friends. The national legislature now engaged with 
great assiduity, in devising such measures as were necessary, 
for a vigorous prosecution of the war, and as would tend to 
remedy the evils already experienced. 

The seaboard, although sometimes threatened by the enemy, 
had not yet experienced any serious molestation. In the month 
of December, the whole coast was proclaimed in a state of 
blockade, but with no force actually applied. This paper 
blockade had no pretence of retaliation, like that declared against 
i the coast of France ; and the United States did not choose to fol- 
low an example so contrary to the law of nations, and in turn 
declare the coast of England in a state of blockade, and under 
that pretence interrupt the commerce of neutrals going to her 
ports. The British vessels were chiefly employed in the pro- 
tection of her commerce against our cruisers ; and her attention 
was so much taken up with the mighty affairs which were then 
passing on the continent, that we fortunately remained, during 



82 BRACKRNRIDGE'S 

War with the Southern Indians. 

this season, unmolested ; at least our homes and our firesides 
were not disturbed. 

A war, however, threatened us in another quarter, to which 
we now looked with no small anxiety. The southern Indians, 
equally ferocious in their modes of warfare, and perhaps more 
daring than the northern, began to exhibit signs of hostility. 
No people had ever less cause to complain. The Creeks 
within the territorial limits of the United States, had been uni- 
formly protected by the Americans ; intruders upon their lands 
were turned off at the point of the bayonet ; immense sums 
were expended in teaching them the arts of civilized life ; 
persons were employed to reside among them, for that pur- 
pose, and implements of agriculture were furnished at the 
public expense. This humane system, commenced by Wash- 
ington, was strictly pursued by subsequent administrations ; 
and the effects were visible, in the course of a few years. 
Their country and climate, probably the best in the United 
States, were capable of affording every thing essential to their 
happiness. The domestic arts had taken root amongst them ; 
that strong stimulant to industry, separate property in the soil, 
was beginning to be understood ; they possessed numerous 
herds, and all the domestic animals ; their situation was, in 
every respect, equal to that of the peasants in many parts of 
Europe. They had thrown off their clothing of skins, and 
wore cottons of their own manufacture ; and their population 
was rapidly increasing. They had always lived on terms of 
friendship with the United States ; their lands had never been 
encroached upon ; and they had become considerably intermin- 
gled, by ma-rriages, with the whites. According to one of their 
laws, no white man, except the Indian agent, was permitted to 
reside in their territory, unless married to a native. 

The benevolent societies of the United States, had opened 
schools through the country, for the purpose of giving the finish 
to this state of manners; for in every other respect they 
had entirely thrown^off their savage habits. Nearly the same 
state of improvement existed amongst the other tribes, the 
Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Cherokecs. The same regular 
industry was visible in the villages of these people, in their 
daily occupations, in their cultivation of the soil, in their atten- 
tion to the lands, and even in the construction of their dwell- 
ings, which, in many cases, were built by white carpenters 
employed for the purpose, and were little inferior to those of 
the generality of white settlers. 

To seduce these people into a war, would be an act of cru- 
elty to them ; and hostilities on their part would b® the extreme 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 83 

Tecumseh's visit to the Creeks. 

of folly. For although, if united, their number would be thrice 
that of the northern Indians, yet being completely surrounded 
by white settlements, their destruction must be inevitable. The 
United States agent, colonel Hawkins, an enlightened man, had 
devoted his life to the civilization of these unfortunate people, and 
had acquired a considerable ascendency over them. But, among 
them, there was a large proportion of the idle and the worth- 
less, who had not acquired any properly, and who were in- 
clined to return to the old state of savage manners, as more 
favourable to their loose, unrestrained propensities, than the 
habits newly introduced, which they pretended to despise. Du- 
ring the summer, while war raged on the northern frontier, 
the disorderly Creeks began to show much uneasiness ; they 
collected in small bands, roamed about the country, committed 
depredations on the property of the well-ordered class, and 
often upon the whites. Shortly after the surrender of Hull, 
this disposition broke out into open violence. A party of these 
vagabond Muscogees fell upon some people, who were descend- 
ing the Mississippi, and murdered them near the mouth of the 
Ohio. The affair was represented to the nation, who caused 
the perpetrators to be seized and put to death. A civil war, 
soon after, was the consequence, in which the savage part, as 
might be expected, prevailed ; and the greater number of those 
who had been friendly to the United States, were either obliged 
to fly, or to join their standard. 

Other causes contributed to brins; about this ruinous state of 
thmgs. The celebrated chief, Tecumseh, had, the year before, 
visited all the southern tribes, for the purpose of kmdling a 
spirit unfriendly to the United States. This savage Demos- 
thenes, wherever he went, called councils of their tribes', and 
with that bold and commanding eloquence, which he possessed 
in a degree infinitely superior to what had ever been witnessed 
amongst these people, exhausted every topic calculated to ope- 
rate on their minds, and alienate their affections from their 
benefactors. Arwong all these nations his speeches had great 
effect, but with the Creeks particularly, although the more 
considerate rejected his interference. Amid the usual topics 
of his discourses, he was in the habit of reproaching them with 
their civilization ; and in the keenest and most sarcastic manner 
contrasted their degenerate effeminacy, with every thing that 
was great and noble in the opinion of Indians. Demosthenes, 
in his reproaches of his countrymen, was not more terribly vehe- 
ment and audacious. Against the United States, he pronounced 
the most furious invectives, which might be compared to the 
Philippics of the Grecian orator; and he unquestionably made 



84 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

War with the Seminole?. 

a strong impression on the inflammable minds of the southern 
Indians. 

There existed, however, another and more immediate cause 
of their enmity towards us. The Seminoles, and the tribes of 
the Creeks who resided within the territory of Spain, were 
frequently supplied with arms and presents from the British 
government, with a view of engaging them to make war upon 
the United States, and also to prevail upon the other Creeks to 
join them. The town of Pensacola, which was then, to every 
purpose, under the control of Great Britain, was the usual 
place at which these presents were distributed, and where the 
vagabond Indians could be supplied with arms ; and they 
resorted to it, from all the different tribes, for the purpose of 
receiving them. It was no difficult matter thus to excite hos- 
tilities ; and the attempt, unfortunately, proved but too success- 
ful. Such was the disposition of the southern Indians, during 
the hrst year of the war. 

The Choctaws, Chickasaws and Cherokees, the latter par- 
ticularly, being further removed from British influence, and 
within reach of our power, were disposed to be friendly ; but 
many of their restless young men, in spite of the nation, strayed 
off and joined our enemies. Hostilities did not commence on 
the part of any of these Indians, within our territory, during 
the first year of the war. The government, however, fearing 
the worst, called on the governors of Georgia and Tennessee, 
to hold their militia in readiness ; and general Jackson, at the 
head of two thousand men, early in the spring, marched through 
the Choctaw and Chickasaw country to Natchez, a distance of 
five hundred miles ; but every thing appearing peaceful in this 
quarter, he shortly after returned. This expedition had the 
effect of fixing the tribes through which it passed, and of re- 
tarding the Creek war. The tribes within the limits of the 
Spanish part of Florida, on the contrary, declared themselves 
at once, and brandished the scalping knife against the frontier 
of Georgia. 

The Seminoles, very soon after the declaration of war, began 
to make incursions into Georgia, accompanied by a number of 
negro runaways, who had taken refuge amongst them. They 
proceeded to the usual work of murdering the inhabitants and 
plundering their property. Early in September, a party of 
marines, and about twenty volunteers under captain Williams, 
were attacked near Davis's Creek by about fifly Indians and 
negroes. After a desperate resistance, in which captains Wil- 
liams and Fort were both severely wounded, the party retreated, 
leaving the savages in possession of their wagons and teams. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 85 



War with the Seminoles, 



On the 24th of the same month, colonel Newman, of the 
Georgia volunteers, with about one hundred and seventeen 
men, marched to the attack of the Loch way towns. When 
within a few miles of the first of these, he met a party of one 
hundred and fifty Indians on horseback, who instantly dis- 
mounted and prepared for battle. Colonel Newman ordered a 
charge, and the Indians were driven into one of the swamps 
which abound in this part of the country. As they fled, the 
fire of the musketry did considerable execution, and, amongst 
others of the slain, they left their king in the hands of the 
whites. The Indians discovering this, with a spirit which 
deserves to be admired, made several desperate charges, in 
order to recover the body of their chief, and were each time 1 
driven back. But in another attempt, still more desperately 
furious, they succeeded in carrying off the dead body ; when 
the}'' retired from the field, afi:er a severe conflict of two hours. 
This, however, did not free the Georgians from their unplea- 
sant situation. Before night, the Indians returned with con- 
siderable reinforcements of negroes ; and after a loss more severe 
than the first, they again fled. The volunteers now found 
their situation becoming every moment more critical ; the num- 
ber of their wounded, would neither permit them to retreat 
nor to advance, and the enemy was hourly increasing on all 
sides. A messenger was despatched for reinforcements ; and 
in the meanwhile, they threw up a small breast-work. Here 
they remained until the 4th of October, waiting for assistance 
having in the meantime repelled numerous assaults from the 
Indians, who continued to harass them day and night. The 
Indians, observing that a perfect silence prevailed within the 
breast-works, suspected that they had been deserted in the 
night ; and approached under this assurance, until within thirty 
or forty paces, when the Georgians suddenly showed them- 
selves above the breast-work, fired their pieces, and sent them 
yelling to the swamps. The volunteers then decamped, and 
reached unmolested the village of Peccolatta, whence they had 
set out. Intelligence of this affair reached the government 
about the commencement of the session of congress, and it 
was found necessary to make suitable preparations to meet a 
war in this quarter. The defence of this important frontier 
was assigned to general Pinckney, of South Carolina, a gentle- 
man of great distinction and ability, who was appointed a briga- 
dier in the service of the United States. 

Congress had not been long in session, when the public 
feelings were once more excited by news of the most flattering 
kind. Another naval victory was announced, not less splendid 

H 



86 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Third Naval Victory over a British Frigate (the Java.) 

than that of the United States, and the first of the Constitution 
the flag of another British frigate was transmitted to our capitol, 
and was placed amongst the other trophies of our naval prowess. 
In October, the Constitution, commodore Bainbridge, and the 
Hornet, captain Lawrence, sailed from New York, and were 
to effect a junction with the Essex, captain Porter, which sailed 
about the same time from the Delaware ; the object of which 
was to cruise in the South Seas, and destroy the British fish- 
eries and commerce in that quarter. The junction not happen- 
ing at the time and place appointed, commodore Porter passed 
round Cape Plorn alone. In the meanwhile, on the 29th of 
December, a few leagues west of St. Salvador, the Constitution, 
which had a few days before parted company with the Hornet, 
descried a British frigate. Commodore Bainbridge tacked, 
and stood for her. At two P. M. the enemy was within half 
a mile of the Constitution, and to windward, having hauled 
down his colours except the union jack, which was at the 
mizen-mast head. A gun was then fired ahead to make him 
show his colours, which was returned by a broadside. The 
enemy's colours being now hoisted, the action commenced with 
round and grape ; but he kept at so great a distance that this 
had little effect ; and in this position, if he were brought nearer, 
the Constitution would be exposed to raking. At thirty minutes 
past two, both ships were within good canister distance, when 
the Constitution's wheel was ^lot away. At forty minutes 
past two, the fore and main sail were set ; and commodore 
Bainbridge, being now determined to close with her, luffed up 
for that purpose : in ten minutes afterward the enemy's jib-boom 
got foul of the Constitution's mizen-rigging, and in another ten 
minutes his bowsprit and jib-boom were shot away. At five 
minutes past three, his maintopmast was shot away just above 
the cap. This was followed by the loss of his gaff and spanker- 
boom, and soon after his mainmast went nearly by the board. 
At fifteen minutes past three, the enemy was completely si- 
lenced, and his colours at the mainmast being down, it was 
thought he had surrendered : under this idea the Constitution 
shot ahead to repair damages ; after which, discovering the 
enemy's flag still flying, she wore, stood for him in hand- 
some style, and got close athwart his bows in an efTectual 
position for raking, when his mainmast went entirely by the 
board, and he lay an unmanageable wreck. He now struck his 
colours ; and being taken possession of by lieutenant Parker, was 
found to be the British frigate Java, of thirty-eight guns, but 
carrying forty-nine, commanded by a distinguished officer, 
captain Lambert, who was mortally wounded. She had on 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 87 

The Constitution captures the Java. 

board four hundred men, besides one hundred seamen whom 
she was carrying out to the East Indies for the service there. 
The Constitution had nine men killed, and twenty-five wound- 
ed ; the Java, sixty killed, and one hundred and twenty wound- 
ed. She had on board despatches for St. Helena, the Cape of 
Good Hope, and the different establishments in the East 
Indies and China, with copper for a seventy-four, building at 
Bombay. There were also on board a number of passengers, 
among whom were lieutenant-general Hislop, governor of 
Bombay ; major Walker ; and one staff-major ; captain Mar- 
shall, master and commander, of the royal navy ; and several 
officers appointed to ships in the East Indies. 

The conduct of all the American officers on this occasion 
was as conspicuous for gallantry during the engagement, as for 
humanity to the vanquished. It is this true chivalric courtesy 
which gives estimation to valour. Lieutenant Ay I win, so fa- 
vourably known to the reader, received a severe wound, of 
which he soon after died. He was in the act of firing his 
pistols at the enemy from the quarterdeck hammock, when he 
received a ball in his shoulder blade, which threw him on the 
deck. Midshipman Dulany, who had fought by his side in 
both actions of this ship, ordered two men of his division to 
carry him below ; to this he would not consent, until he saw 
the issue of the battle, at the same time declaring that no man 
should quit his post on his account. Lieutenant Parker, James 
Dulany, of Pennsylvania, and James Packett, of Virginia, were 
much distinguished ; the latter was afterwards presented with 
a sword by his native state, and was promoted to a lieutenancy. 
Many extraordinary instances of bravery were manifested by 
the seamen, one of whom, afler being mortally wounded, lay 
upon deck during a great part of the action, apparently expir- 
ing ; but no sooner was it announced that the enemy had 
struck, than he raised himself up, gave three cheers, fell back 
and expired. 

On the 1st of January, the commodore, finding the prize in 
vsuch a state as to render it impossible to bring her in, and 
leaving every thing on board except the prisoners' baggage, 
blew her up. On arriving at St. Salvador, the commodore re- 
ceived the public acknowledgements of governor Hislop, who 
presented him with an elegant sword in consideration of the 
polite treatment which he had shown. He dismissed the private 
passengers without considering them as prisoners ; the public 
passengers, officers, and crew were released on their parol. At 
this place the Constitution met with the Hornet ; and leavi-^ g 
this vessel to blockade the Bonne Citoyenne, the commode <! 



88 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Disasters of our Arms to the West Harrison returns to Ohio. 

sailed for the United States, changing the original destination 
for the South Seas. 

On the arrival of commodore Bainbridge in the United 
States, he was universally hailed by the applauses of his coun- 
trymen : he received the freedom of the city of New York in 
a gold box ; a piece of plate from the citizens of Philadelphia, 
and the thanks of many of the state legislatures. Congress also 
presented him a medal, and voted fifty thousand dollars to him- 
self, officers, and crew. 

In the midst of- these affairs, news of fresh disasters to the 
westward, and accompanied by circumstances such as rarely 
occur in the annals of history, tended much to temper the 
public joy for the second victory of the Constitution. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Harrison returns to Ohio— General Winchester sends a detachment to the relief o.^ 
Prenchtown— Defeat of the British and Indians — Winchester arrives with Reinforc* 
ments— Defeat and Surrender of the Americans at the River Raisin— Cruelty of tk : 
British and Indians at the River Raisin— Humanity of the People of Detroit — Marc) 
of General Harrison— Siege of Fort Meigs— Defeat of Colonel Dudley— Sortie unde 
Colonel Miller— Siege of Fort Meigs raised— Exploit of Major Ball, 



We have seen with what indefatigable industry general Har- 
rison was engaged in placing the western frontier in a posture 
of defence, and in attempting to regain what we had lost. The 
Indian tribes had been made to feel the war in their own country, 
and were driven to such a distance by the destruction of their 
villages, as to prevent them from annoying our settlements , 
they were compelled to remove their wives and children to the 
distant British establishments, in order to obtain the means of 
subsistence. The close of the season was now chiefly occu- 
pied in strengthening the frontier posts, and in establishing others. 
Great exertions were made by governor Meigs, of Ohio, to 
keep up the necessary supply of men, and to provide the means 
of subsistence. General Harrison established his head quarters 
at Franklinton, whence he could with greater facility organize 
and distribute to the different forts the reinforcements and sup- 
plies which must arrive. His object was to concentrate a con- 
siderable force at the Rapids, and thence, unless a change of cir- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 89 



General Winchester sends a Detachment to the relief of Frenchtowu. 

cumstances forbade, proceed to Detroit. The government was 
compelled, in consequence of the taking of that place, to trans- 
port artillery and public stores at an enormous expense across 
the mountains, and down the Ohio ; and afterwards to the dif- 
ferent forts. This necessarily consumed much time, and de- 
layed the operations of the army. 

In the meanwhile, general Winchester continued at Fort De- 
fiance, with about eight hundred men ; many of the volunteers 
having returned home on the expiration of their term of service. 
Those who remained were chiefly from Kentucky, and the 
greater part ranked amongst its most respectable citizens. 
Early in the month of January, General Winchester received 
intimations from the inhabitants of the village of Frenchtown, 
which is situated on the river Raisin, between the Rapids and 
Detroit, that a large body of British and Indians were about to 
concentrate at this point, for the purpose of preventing the fur- 
ther progress of the Americans. The inhabitants, becoming 
alarmed at their situation, besought the Americans to march to 
their protection, as they would probably be exposed to the 
horrors of Indian massacre, in the midst of ferocious savages, 
whom the British were obliged to indulge, that they might be 
kept in good humour. Threats against them had, besides, 
been thrown out by one of the Indian chiefs. The sensibility 
of the young American volunteers was strongly excited ; and 
they earnestly besought the general to lead them to the defence 
of the distressed inhabitants. With some reluctance, he yielded 
to their wishes, and, contrary to the general plan of the com- 
mander-in-chief, resolved to send a force to their relief. Ac- 
cordingly, on the 17th of January, he detached a body of men 
under colonels Lewis and Allen, with orders to wait at Presque 
Isle, until joined by the main body. 

On their arrival, information was received that an advance 
party of British and Indians had already taken possession of 
Frenchtown. It was determined to march instantly and attack 
them. As they drew near, the enemy became apprised of their 
approach, and prepared for their reception. Colonel Allen com- 
manded the right wing, major Graves the left, and major Madison 
the centre. On coming to the river, which was bridged with 
ice, they deployed, and moved forward under a fire from a 
howitzer and musketry. Majors Graves and Madison, with 
their battalions, were ordered to dislodge the enemy from the 
houses and picketing, which they in a moment effected, under 
a shower of bullets, and drove the British and Indians to the 
woods. Colonel Allen made a simultaneous movement upon 

H* 



90 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Defeat of the British and Indians .... Winchester arrives with reinforcements. 

their left, and after several spirited charges compelled these to 
take to the wood also. Here, availing themselves of the fences 
and fallen timber, they attempted to make a stand ; but were 
attacked a second time, and after a conflict more obstinate than 
the first, again fled. They now attempted to draw their pur- 
suers into a wood ; and partly succeeding, they charged in turn 
furiously, but were unable to break the American line. A 
severe conflict now ensued, but the enemy were finally beaten, 
pursued with a continual charge for several miles, and entirely 
dispersed. The American loss was twelve killed, and fifty-five 
wounded : that of the enemy could not well be ascertained, but 
fifteen of the Indians were left on the field. The volunteers, 
having thus gallantly effected their object, encamped on the 
spot, where they remained until the 20th, when they were 
joined by general Winchester. With this addition, their whole 
force exceeded seven hundred and fifty men. 

Six hundred men were placed within a line of pickets, and the 
remainder, to the number of one hundred and fifty, encamped 
in the open field. On the morning of the 22d, a combined force 
of about fifteen hundred men, under Proctor and the Indian chiefs 
Round-Head and Split-Log, suddenly attacked our little army. 
They were in an instant ready for the reception of the enemy, 
who planted six pieces of artillery, and opened a heavy fire, 
accompanied with musketry, against the slight breast-work of 
pickets. The body of men belonging to the encampment, and 
composing the right wing, was soon overpowered by numbers, 
and endeavoured to retreat across the river. Two companies 
of fifty men each, seeing the situation of their comrades, sallied 
out of the breast-work to their relief, but were obliged to retreat 
with them. Nearly all these unfortunate men were either cut 
off, or surrendered themselves prisoners to the British, under 
promise of protection. The left wing within the pickets, still 
continued a cool and steady resistance. Three successive as- 
saults were made by the British Forty-first, but they were 
driven back, with the loss of thirty killed and one hundred 
wounded. When the right wing broke at the commencement 
of the action, great efforts had been made by general Winches- 
ter and colonel Lewis, to rally and bring them within the 
pickets ; but in the attempt these officers were taken prisoners. 
Notwithstanding these misfortunes, and the overwhelming force 
which assailed them on every side, they still continued, with 
firmness and determination seldom surpassed, to repulse every 
assault of the enemy, until eleven o'clock in the day ; making 
prodigious slaughter in his ranks. 

Finding at length that it would be vain to contend openly 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 91 



Defeat and Surrender of the Americans at the River Raisin. 



with such men, resolved to defend themselves to the last, and 
that even if they had now been successful, their victory would 
have been dearly bought, the enemy attempted to prevail on 
them to surrender. The general was told by colonel Proctor, 
that unless his men surrendered, they would be delivered over 
to the fury of the savages, or what amounts to the same thing, 
no responsibility would be taken for their conduct, and that 
the houses of the village would be burnt. The general sent a 
flag communicating these particulars, and stating that in order 
to preserve the remainder of his brave troops, he had agreed 
to surrender them as prisoners of war, on condition of their 
being protected from the savages, of their being allowed to 
retain their private property, and of having their side arms 
returned them. The flag passed three times ; the Americans 
being unwilling to surrender with arms in their hands, until they 
received a positive engagement from a British colonel that they 
should not be murdered, and that they should have the privilege 
of burying their dead. Thirty-five officers, and four hundred 
and fifty non-commissioned officers and men, still remained, 
after fighting six hours against artillery, surrounded by the 
yells of a thousand savages, waiting like wolves for their prey. 
At this time the killed, wounded and missing, of the little army, 
including those that had been outside the pickets, amounted to 
more than three hundred. The loss of the British could not 
have been less. The little band, thus solicited by their general, 
and giving way to that ray of hope which the bravest in despe- 
rate situations will seize, at last consented to a surrender. 

The office of the historian sometimes imposes a melancholy 
duty. The mind may be allowed to indulge a generous satis- 
faction, in recording those actions where a high, but mistaken 
ambition calls forth our energies at the expense of humanity. 
Who can read without admiring, the retreat of the ten thousand 
Greeks, and what heart can be insensible to the recital of the 
fate of Leonidas and his immortal band ! The virtues of such 
men, their fortitude, their love of country, their unconquerable 
minds, give a sanctity to their fate ; and while we grieve for 
them, we rejoice that we also are men. Far otherwise, when 
we trace, in characters of blood, the cold, deliberate, fiendlike 
depravity, which assimilates men to the most odious and fero- 
cious of the brute creation. 

The task I must now fulfil is painful ; I must speak of such 
things as I almost shudder to name ; neither can it be done 
without tearing open the yet bleeding wounds of my country. 
But faithful history forbids that they should be passed over in 
silence ; they must stand forth in all the awfulness of truth : 



92 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Cruelty of the British and Indians at the River Raisin. 



and that impartial judgment must be passed upon them, which 
will doom them to the detestation of all posterity. The ven- 
geance of heaven does not sleep. There is a measure of retri- 
butive justice even in this world, which soon or late overtakes 
the swillest guilt. Not the most infuriated passions of the worst 
times, ever caused the perpetration of more shocking cruel- 
ties than were now practised towards this band of brave men. 
Impelled by feelings of humanity, they had marched to protect 
the feeble and the helpless from savage violence : and assailed by 
overwhelming numbers, they might have contended to the last 
man; but yielding to the solicitations of their captured general, 
and to the threats of the conflagration of the village and the mur- 
der of its inhabitants, they surrendered in an evil hour to a faith- 
less and treacherous foe, that they might be consigned to cruel 
suffering, to butchery, to murder, to unrelenting torture, to 
every species of savage death. Well might those disposed to 
wage such a war, wish to destroy the pen of history. Would, 
for the honour of Britain ; would, for the sake of humanity ; 
would, for the sake of our common relationship to a nation 
which possesses so many virtues, that the odious tale of the 
river Raisin and Frenchtown, might be consigned to eternal 
oblivion ! But it cannot be. The sacred call of truth must be 
obeyed. The savage and wanton massacre of our heroic coun- 
trymen, in the presence of a British officer, has not been 
denied, or palliated. Other atrocities the perpetrators have 
attempted to cover, by some flimsy veil of unsubstantial excuse ; 
but this charge has always been met with silence. They have 
not dared directly to deny ; and, gracious heaven, where could 
they find an excuse ! 

Scarcely had the Americans surrendered, under the stipu- 
lation of protection from the British officer, than our brave 
citizens discovered, too late, that they were reserved to be 
butchered in cold blood. Of the right wing, but a small num- 
ber had escaped ; the work of scalping and stripping the dead, 
and murdering those who could no longer resist, was suffered 
to go on without restraint. The infernal work was now to 
begin with those who had so bravely defended themselves. 
The infamous Proctor and the British officers turned a deaf ear 
to the just remonstrances of these unhappy men. Contrary to 
express stipulation, the swords were taken from the sides of the 
officers ; and many of them stripped almost naked, and robbed. 
The brave dead were stripped and scalped, and their bodies 
shockingly mutilated. The tomahawk put an end at once to 
the sufferings of many of the wounded, who could not rise ; in 
allusion to which, some days afterwards, a British officer ob- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 93 

Cruelty ,of the British and Indians at the Kiver Raisin. 

served, " The Indians are excellent doctors." The prisoners, 
who now remained, with but a few exceptions, instead of being 
guarded by British soldiers, were delivered to the charge of the 
Indians, to be marched in the rear of the army to Maiden. 
This was, in other words, a full permission to indulge their 
savage thirst for blood ; and in this they were not disappointed ; 
for the greater part of these ill-fated men were murdered on the 
way, through mere wantonness. All such as became too weak 
for want of nourishment, from excessive fatigue, from their 
wounds, in this most inclement season of the year, were at 
once despatched. But small was the remnant of this little army, 
that ever reached the British garrison ; the greater part of the 
prisoners had been carried off by the Indians, that they might 
satiate their fiendlike hatred by roasting them at the stake ; or 
if reserved, it was to gratify their cupidity, by rendering them 
the objects of traffic. Alas ! what heart does not shrink with 
horror, from the recapitulation ! 

About sixty of the wounded, many of them officers of dis- 
tinction, or individuals of much respectability, had been suffered 
to take shelter in the houses of the inhabitants, and two of their 
own surgeons permitted by Proctor to attend them, from whom 
they also obtained a promise that a guard should be placed to 
protect them, and that they should be carried to Maiden the 
next morning in sleds. But this affected humanity, was but 
an aggravation of his cruelty, by awakening a hope which he 
intended to disappoint. No guard of soldiers was left, and on 
the next day, instead of sleds to convey them to a place of 
safety, a party of Indians returned to the field of battle, fell upon 
these poor wounded men, plundered them of their clothing, and 
every article of any value which remained, tomahawked the 
greater part of them, and, to finish the scene, fired the houses, 
and consumed the dying and the dead ! 

The terrible tale is not yet told. Those rites, which in 
every civilized country are held sacred, which are not withheld 
from the vilest malefactor, which are paid alike to enemies and 
to friends, and for which there existed an express stipulation 
with the monster who commanded (a stipulation unnecessary 
amongst civilized men) — the rites of sepulture, were not 
only denied, but the humane inhabitants of the village dared 
not perform them under pain of death. And why was this re- 
fused? Because, said Proctor, his majesty's allies would not 
permit ! Was there any attempt made to bury them ? None. 
Notwithstanding this, some of the inhabitants, although it 
" was as much as their lives were worth," did venture to per- 
form this last and pious office to captain Hart, to captain 



94 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Cruelty of the British and Indians at the River Raisin. 

Woolfolk, and a few others ; but the remainder, nearly two 
hundred in number, never had this office performed for them, 
until their friends and relatives triumphed in turn, the autumn 
following, and then gathered up their bleaching bones and laid 
them in one common grave. Their mangled bodies had been 
suffered to lie on the ground exposed to the ferocious beasts of 
prey, or to the more horrible pollution of domestic animals. 

The tragedy was diversified by the most afflicting scenes of 
individual suffering. The fate of the brave and accomplished 
captain Hart, a near relative of two of our most distinguished 
statesmen (Henry Clay and James Brown), a young gentle- 
man of finished education and polished manners, cannot be 
related without a tear. He had in a particular manner distin- 
guished himself during the engagement, and had received a 
severe wound in the knee. On being surrendered with the 
other prisoners, he was recognized by colonel Elliot, a native 
of the United States, with whom he had been a classmate at 
Princeton, but who had become a British officer and an ally to 
the savages. Base indeed must be that man, whose soul, under 
such circumstances, would not be touched ! Elliot voluntarily 
offered his services to the friend of his youth, his countryman, 
and promised to take him under his special protection, and to 
transport him to Maiden ; but whether he changed his mind, 
or was forbidden by Proctor, certain it is, that he gave himself 
no further concern on the subject. The next day a party of 
Indians came into the room where he lay, and tore him from 
his bed ; he was then carried to another apartment by o-ne of 
his brother officers, where he soon experienced the same treat- 
ment. He then, by the offer of a large sum of money, induced 
some Indians to take him to Maiden ; they had proceeded but 
a short distance, when they dragged him from his horse, shot 
him and scalped him. The same species of suffering was 
undergone by colonel Allen, by captains Hickman, Woolfolk, 
and M'Cracken. This ill-fated band was composed of the 
flower of Kentucky ; we may name Mr. Simpson, a member 
of congress, captains Bledsoe, Matson, Hamilton, Williams 
and Kelly, and majors Madison and Ballard. With the excep- 
tion of three companies of United States infantry under captains 
Hightower, Collier and Sebree, they were, all, the volunteers of 
that patriotic state. On the evening succeeding the engagement, 
rum was distributed to the Indians, for a frolic in which they 
were disposed to indulge, and we may easily suppose what 
was the nature of their infernal orgies. 

Proctor now beginning to fear the infamy attached to his 
conduct, offered a price for those whom the Indians still pre- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 95 

Humanity of tlie People of Detroit. 

served — those prisoners who had surrendered on the faith of a 
capitulation with him, and whom he ought never to have aban- 
doned. The humane inhabitants of Detroit had already exhi- 
bited a degree of tenderness and solicitude for their unfortunate 
countrymen which will ever entitle them to our gratitude and 
esteem. Many of them parted with every thing they possessed 
of value, for the purchase of the prisoners ; for, to the disgrace 
of the British arms must it be recorded, persons of the first 
respectability, who composed this Spartan band, were suffered, 
under the eyes of colonel Proctor, to be hawked about the streets 
from door to door, and offered for sale like beasts ! The only 
restraint on the cruelty of the savage wretches, arose from 
permitting them to consult their avarice. Even such prison- 
ers as were more fortunate, no matter what their rank or 
character, were treated with every species of contumely and 
contempt. 

The conduct of the people of Detroit was such as might have 
been expected from humane Americans. The female sex, ever 
the foremost in acts of benevolence to the distressed, were parti- 
cularly distinguished ; theygladly gave their shawls, and even the 
blankets from their beds, when nothino; else remained for them 
to give. Mr. Woodward, the former judge of the supreme court, 
and appointed by the President of the United States, a man of 
enlightened mind, now openly and boldly remonstrated with 
Proctor, and in the manly tone of his injured country depicted 
the infamy of the British conduct. " The truth," said he, 
" must undoubtedly eventually appear, and that unfortunate day 
must meet the steady and impartial eye of history." Those 
facts have been established by a cloud of witnesses, and the 
appeal of judge Woodward will reach posterity. Let the reader 
of this history now remember, that this was but the commence- 
ment of a series of barbarities both upon the Atlantic board and 
upon the frontier, which was afterwards systematically pur- 
sued : that so far from this having been covered by the base 
excuse of retaliation, it is a charge which has never otherwise 
been met than with the silence of conscious guilt. 

Never did any calamity so deeply affect the sensibilities of a 
people. All Kentucky was literally in mourning; for the 
soldiers thus massacred, tortured, burnt, or denied the common 
rites of sepulture, were of the most respectable families of the 
state ; many of them young men of fortune and distinction, 
with numerous friends and relatives. 

It would be unjust, in this common anathema, to include all 
the British officers ; the names of some deserve to be rescued 
from this indelible reproach ; major Muir, captains Aikins, 



98 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

March of General Harrison. 

Curtis, Dr. Bowen, and the reverend Mr. Parrow. Elliot waa 
also spoken of in favourable terms by the American officers, as 
bavin fT on some occasions interested himself for the sufferers. 
Enough has certainly been said on this distressing subject ; one 
part, however, cannot be omitted. Proctor, perceiving the 
eagerness of the people of Detroit in puroiiasing the unhappy 
captives, actually issued an order prohibiting any further pur- 
chases, on the ground that they gave more than the govern- 
ment. This officer was afterwards promoted to the rank of a 
brigadier, in consequence of his good conduct, particularly in 
saving the prisoners from the fury of the Indians. If any 
thing can move indignation, it is this climax of insult. The facts' 
were afterwards proved to the satisfaction of every one ; but 
the British government was silent, instead of making a signal 
example of the man who had brought such disgrace upon her 
name. 

A few days after the affair, a Dr. M'Keehan was despatched 
by general Harrison for the purpose of attending the sick, and 
provided with gold to purchase such things as they might want. 
The doctor, notwithstanding his flag, his sacred errand, and 
an open letter directed to any British officer, stating the object 
of his mission, was actually wounded and robbed, then dragged 
to Maiden, whence he was taken to Quebec. After the suf- 
ferings of several months, having been dragged from place to 
place, from dungeon to dungeon, he at length reached home, 
with a constitution totally impaired. Such are the distressing 
occurrences which it becomes the painful duty of the historian 
to record. 

The news of this melancholy affair soon after reached general 
Harrison, who was on his march with reinforcements to general 
Winchester. He had heard with chagrin the movements of 
that officer, and apprehensive of the consequence, had ordered 
a detachment of three hundred men, under major Cotgreves, 
from general Perkins's brigade of Ohio militia, to march to his 
relief. Hearing of the disaster, they fell back upon the Rapids, 
where general Harrison was then stationed, who retreated to 
Carrying river, for the purpose of forming a junction with the 
troops in the rear, and favouring the convoy of artillery and 
stores then coming from Upper Sandusky. He first, however, 
despatched a chosen body of one hundred and seventy men for 
the purpose of picking up such of the unfortunate fugitives as 
might have escaped. The number of these was very small, on 
account of the depth of the snow, which rendered it almost im- 
possible for them to make their way. Governor Meigs having 
promptly despatched two regiments to the assistance of Harri- 



HISTORY O'c THK WAR. 97 



Siege of Fort Meigs. 



son, the latter again advanced to the Rapids, and immediately 
set about constructing a fort, which, in honour of the governor 
of Ohio, he named Fort Meigs. Fortifications were at the 
same time constructed at Upper Sandusky by general Crooks, 
who commanded the Pennsylvania militia. Excepting some 
partizan excursions, nothing additional transpired during the 
severe winter months. The movement of general Winchester 
had entirely deranged the plans of Harrison ; and it was neces- 
sary to organize a new system. He returned to Ohio, for the 
purpose of obtaining an additional force from that state, and 
Kentucky. Towards the beginning of April, he received in- 
formation which hastened his return to Fort Meigs. 

The enemy for some time past had been collecting in con- 
siderable numbers, for the purpose of laying siege to this place ; 
and as the new levies had not yet arrived, the Pennsylvania 
brigade, although its term of service had expired, generously 
volunteered for the defence of the fort. Immediately on his 
arrival, general Harrison set about making preparations for the 
approaching siege. The fort was situated upon a rising ground, 
at the distance of a few hundred yards from the river, the 
country on each side of which is chiefly natural meadows. The 
garrison was well supplied with the means of defence, and 
Harrison, with unremitted exertions, laboured, night and day, 
to improve its capacity for resisting the siege. The assistance 
of captains Wood and Gratiot, his principal engineers, enabled 
him to put in practice whatever was necessary to improve his 
fortifications. The troops in the fort, to the number of twelve 
hundred, the greater part volunteers, were in high spirits, and 
determined to defend themselves to the utmost. On the 28th, 
one of the parties constantly kept out for the purpose of noting 
the advance of the enemy, reported that he was in great force 
about three miles below. A few British and Indians showed 
themse-Ives on the opposite side ; but a few shot from an eigh- 
teen-pounder, compelled them to retire. A despatch was now 
sent to hasten the march of general Clay, who was approach- 
ing with twelve hundred militia from Kentucky. These brave 
people, so much suflerers during the war, were ever the fore- 
most to meet danger, and the first to fly to the relief of their 
friends. On the three following days, the enemy was occu- 
pied in selecting the best positions on either side of the river, 
around the fort, whence it might be annoyed, and in erecting 
batteries on the opposite side : in the latter, they were conside- 
rably impeded by the fire from Fort Meigs ; but they usually 
availed themselves of the night, to proceed in the work. A 
fire of small arms had been kept up by them, which was re- 
I 



98 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Siege of Fort Meigs. 

turned by the American artillery, but without any loss of im 
portance on either side. 

The garrison suffered somewhat from want of water, their 
well not being completed ; and it was attended with great risk 
to obtain their supply during the night from the river. The 
perpetual vigilance necessary to be observed in guarding against 
a surprise, required them to lie constantly on their arms, and 
was calculated to wear them down. On the 1st of May, the 
enemy had mounted his batteries, and opened a fire with one 
twenty-four pounder, one twelve, one six, and one howitzer. 
No material injury was done on either side : the commander- 
in-chief made a narrow escape, a ball having struck a bench on 
which he was sitting; and some days before, a man was mor- 
tally wounded by his side. On the 3d, an additional battery 
was opened, at the distance of two hundred and fifty yards 
from the fort, mounted with a mortar ; and a number of bombs 
were thrown : but this was several times silenced. In this 
part of the siege, major Chambers approached the fort with a 
flag, and, for the first time, summoned the place to surrender 
He stated, that the British commander was desirous of sparing 
the effusion of human blood ; that his force was so immense 
that it would be impossible to withstand it ; and that, unless the 
Americans threw themselves at once upon the tender mercy of 
Proctor, they might expect to be massacred in cold blood. 
This summons was received by Harrison, with the contempt 
and indignation it merited. To look for mercy from the hands 
of Proctor, yet reeking from the murder of the Kentuckians 
at the river Raisin, would have been imbecility indeed ; and if 
he had not been able to restrain the Indians then, how could he 
now, when, according to his own account, the number of 
these collected, was greater than had ever been known ? The 
commander expressed his surprise, that the garrison had not 
been summoned before ; this at least implied they thought him 
resolved to do his duty ; and that as to the number of his force, 
which he represented as of such unusual magnitude, it was a 
trick which he perfectly understood. He then requested ma- 
jor Chambers to return for answer to general Proctor, that 
while he had the honour to command an American fort, it 
should never surrender to a combined force of British and In- 
dians. 

The siege was renewed with great vigour, and the firing was 
hotly k'ept up on both sides. The Indians mounted on trees at 
some distance from the fort, fired into it, and killed and wounded 
several. On the 5th, a small party from the advancing corps 
under general Clay, reached the fort, with the information that 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 99 



Defeat of Colonel Dudley Sortie under Colonel Miller. 



he was in his boats not many miles above. Orders were in- 
stantly despatched by the commander-in-chief to the general, 
requiring him to detach eight hundred men for the purpose of 
landing on the opposite side and destroying the enemy's bat- 
teries ; and in the meanwhile he projected a sortie against those 
on the side of the fort, under the command of lieutenant-colo- 
nel Miller of the Nineteenth United States infantry. This 
simultaneous attack was well planned : should it succeed, the 
enemy would be compelled to raise the siege instantly. Colo- 
nel Dudley, who was charged with the execution of the order 
by general Clay, landed his men in good order, and then ad- 
vanced on the enemy's cannon. The four batteries were car- 
ried in an instant, and the British regulars and Indians com- 
pelled to take to flight. A large body of Indians, under the 
celebrated Tecumseh, were on their march to the British camp, 
when they met the fugitives : this body was instantly ordered 
to form an ambush, and wait the approach of the Americans ; 
and, to decoy them, a few Indians showed themselves out of 
the woods, as if to renew the action. Colonel Dudley having 
executed his orders, commanded a retreat : but his men, flushed 
with victory, and roused with the desire of avenging their 
slaughtered countrymen, pushed forward with irresistible im- 
petuosity. Their commander in vain attempted to check their 
career ; he even turned his spontoon against them ; but nothing 
could restrain them. In a few moments, they found themselves 
surrounded by three times their number. A desperate fight 
now ensued, which was followed by a slaughter of the Ken- 
tuckians, almost as terrible as that at the river Raisin, though 
not to the same extent after the battle. The chief who now 
commanded, was of a much more generous character than 
Round-Head, or Proctor ; and even on the field of battle per- 
sonally interposed to save those who yielded. But one hun- 
dred and fifty made their escape ; the rest were either killed 
or missing. Colonel Dudley attempted to cut his way through 
to the river ; but was killed, having himself slain an Indian af- 
ter he was mortally wounded. The other party, under gene- 
ral Clay, landed upon the side of the fort, and was near being 
drawn in like manner into an ambush, when general Harrison 
ordered a troop of horse to sally out and cover their retreat. 

The impetuosity of colonel Dudley's party, in some measure, 
disconcerted the plan of the sortie under colonel Miller. Not- 
withstanding this, he sallied forth at the head of three hundred 
men, assaulted the whole line of their works, manned by three 
hundred and fifty regulars and five hundred Indians, and after 
several brilliant charges, drove the enemy from their principal 



100 BRACKRxNRIDGE'S 



Sortie under Colonel Miller Siege of Fort Meigs raised. 

batteries, spiked the caDnon, and returned to the fort with for- 
ty-two prisoners. The first charge was made on the Canadians 
and Indians by major Alexander's battalion ; the second by 
colonel Miller, against the regulars : the officers of these were 
Croghan, Langham, Bradford, a gallant officer, Nearing, and 
lieutenants Gwynne and Campbell. A company of Kentuck- 
ians, commanded by captain Sebree, who had distinguished 
himself in the battle of Frenchtown, was particularly remarked ; 
it maintained its ground with unshaken firmness, at one time 
against four times its numbers ; and being entirely surrounded, 
would have been cut to pieces, had not lieutenant Gwynne, of 
the Nineteenth, gallantly charged through the enemy, and 
released it. 

A cessation of hostilities took place during the three follow- 
ing days ; flags frequently passed between the besiegers and 
the besieged, and arrangements were entered into for the 
exchange of prisoners. Tecumseh agreed to release his claim 
to the persons taken by the Indians, provided some Wyandots, 
to the number of forty, were delivered up : and Proctor pro- 
mised to furnish a list of the killed, wounded and prisoners ; 
with this, however, he never complied. On the 9th, the enf»- 
my appeared to be engaged in making preparations for raising 
the siege : a schooner, and some gun-boats had been brought 
up during the night, for the purpose of embarking their artil- 
lery ; a few shot from the fort compelled them to relinquish 
this design, and at ten o'clock, they raised the siege, and moved 
off with their whole force. 

Thus terminated a siege of thirteen days, in which our ene- 
mies were taught, that in future they must expect to meet with 
resistance ditTerent from that which they had experienced from 
Hull ; and that, if they should succeed in taking an American 
garrison, it must be after severe fighting. The loss of the 
Americans in the fort, was eighty-one killed, and one hundred 
and eighty-nine wounded. The loss of the Kentuckians, as 
usual, was much the most severe, amounting to upwai'ds of 
seventy killed and wounded, besides the loss under colonel Dud- 
ley. This officer was much regretted ; few men in Kentucky 
were more generally esteemed : his body, after much search, was 
found unburied, and horribly mangled. He was interred, to- 
gether with some of his companions, with the honours of war- 

The force under general Proctor was reported at five hun- 
dred and fifty regulars, eight hundred militia, and fifteen hundred 
Indians ; the latter of whom fought with great courage, and, on 
several occasions, rescued their allies in the sorties from the 
garrison. On the day of the last affair, Tecumseh arrived in 



HISTORY OF TFiE WAR. 101 

Siege of Fort Meigs raised. 

person, with the largest body of Indians that had ever been 
collected on the northern frontier ; and had not the sortie taken 
place, it is probable the situation of the army would have been 
extremely critical. The Indians, after the battle, according to 
the custom which prevails amongst them, had returned to their 
villages, in spite of the exertions of Tecumseh and his subor- 
dinate chiefs. Thus weakened, Proctor was obliged precipi- 
tately to retreat, leaving behind many valuable articles, which 
in his haste he was unable to carry awaj' . Besides the Ame- 
rican officers already named, there were many others who dis- 
tinguished themselves : major Ball, an active officer, who was 
frequently complimented in general orders, rendered great ser- 
vice during the siege ; captain Croghan on one occasion made 
a brilliant sortie on the British regulars ; majors Todd, John- 
son, Sodwick, Ritzen, and Stoddard, were also mentioned in 
the most honourable terms. The latter, a man of distinguished 
literary attainments, received a severe wound, of which he 
afterwards died. Captain Butler's Pittsburgh Blues, which 
behaved so handsomely at the battle of Mississiniwa, composed 
chiefly of young gentlemen of Pittsburgh, suffered severely ; 
the accomplished young officer who commanded them, was a 
son of the lamented general Butler, who fell in St. Clair's de- 
feat. It would be in vain, on this occasion, to enumerate all 
who deserved the applauses of their country. 

After the siege of Fort Meigs, offensive operations were for 
a considerable time suspended on both sides. Until the com- 
pletion of the naval preparations on Lake Erie, which were 
then in considerable forwardness, the troops were to remain at 
Fort Meigs, and Upper Sandusky. Without the command of 
the lake, little of consequence could be effected ; the troops 
would, therefore, continue a great part of the summer in a 
state of inactivity, awaiting this event. In the meantime 
general Harrison returned to Franklinton, for the purpose of 
organizing the forces expected to concentrate at that place. A 
deputation from all the Indian tribes residing in the state of 
Ohio, and some in the territories of Indiana and Illinois, made 
a tender of their services to follow general Harrison into Cana- 
da. Hitherto, with the exception of a "small band commanded 
by Logan, a distinguished chief and nephew of Tecumseh, 
none of the friendly Indians had been employed by the United 
States. The advice to remain neutral, could not be understood 
by them : they considered it in some measure a reproach upon 
their courage ; more particularly, as several hostile incursions 
had been made of late into their settlements by the hostile In- 
dians. General Harrison consented to receive them into the 



102 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Exploit of Major Ball British Preparations in Canada. 

service ; but, expressly on condition, that they should spare 
their prisoners and not assail defenceless women and children. 
Logan was killed not long afterwards. 

Although the settled parts of the country were shielded from 
the depredations of the Indians, they still continued to attack 
the settlements along the borders of the lake, from Frenchtown 
to Erie. These inroads received a temporary check, from a 
squadron of horse under major Ball. This officer was descend- 
ing the Sandusky with twenty-two men, when he was fired 
upon by about the same number of Indians in ambuscade. 
He charged upon them ; drove them from their hiding-places ; 
and, after an obstinate contest on a plain, favourable to the 
operations of cavalry, killed their chiefs. The savages, see- 
ing no hope of escape, contended with dreadful fury until 
their whole band was destroyed. During the heat of the fight, 
the major was dismounted, and had a personal conflict with a 
chief of prodigious strength. They fought with desperation, 
until an officer shot the Indian. 

We now return to the operations of our armies on the 
northern frontiers ; where, since the winter, and the renewal 
of hostilities, events of a very important character had trans- 
pired. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



British Preparations in Canada— Incursion of Forsythe— Attack on Ogdensburgh— 
General Pike— Taking of York— Explosion of a Magazine— Death of General Pike- 
Taking of Forts George and Erie— Battle of Stony Creek— Capture of Generals Chan- 
dler and Winder— British attack Sacketl's Harbour— repulsed by General Brown- 
Resignation of General Dearborne— Town of Sodus attacked— Affair at Beaver Dama 
—Lieutenant Eidridge— Indians taken into the American service— British attack 
Black Rock— Second taking of York— British devastate the Borders of Lake Cham- 
plain — Cruise of Commodore Chauncey on Lake Ontario. 

DuRi?^G the winter. Great Britain had sent a number of 
troops to Halifax, for the purpose of being employed, in the 
spring, in the defence of Canada. The recent success of the 
allies on the continent, had taken away any disposition she 
might have had for a peace, as was clearly proved by the re- 
jection of the Russian mediation, The militia of Canada was 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 103 



Incursion of Forsythe Attack on Ogdcnsburgh. 



disciplined with great care, and from the great energy of the 
British government, it was enabled to bring them more prompt- 
ly into service, and to retain them for a longer term ; while on 
our side, during the past year, from the unpopularity of the war, 
it was difficult to prevail on the states to call out the militia; 
and volunteers, by which the war to the westward was so 
spiritedly carried on, came forward, in the northern sections 
of the union, in but small numbers. It was still hoped that 
such preparations would be made, during the winter, as would 
lead to something of more importance than had been done the 
year before ; although the golden moment for the conquest of 
Canada had passed, the British having so strengthened them- 
selves, as to render the execution of such a project a matter 
of extreme difficulty. It was thought, however, that by one 
vigorous effort more, particularly if the spirit of the northern 
states could be roused, and the nation be made to come forth 
in its strength, something might yet be effected. If the com- 
plete command of the lakes could be obtained, the whole of 
Upper Canada, at least, must fall before winter. 

A mutual exchange of prisoners had taken place, and ar- 
rangements were entered into, to effect this in future ; by which 
means some valuable officers, taken in the first campaign, were 
restored. The troops, enlisted in the midland and northern 
states, were marched to the frontier, and all the necessary 
supplies and munitions of war were assiduously collected at the 
different posts along the line. Excepting some partizan af- 
fairs, nothing of consequence transpired during the winter. 

In the month of February, a party of the enemy, who cross- 
ed in search of some of their deserters, committed many 
wanton depredations on the houses and property of the inhabi- 
tants. Major Forsythe, who commanded at Ogdensburgh, re- 
solved to return the visit. Taking a part of his riflemen, and 
such volunteers as offered, some of whom were private gentle- 
men of the neighbourhood, he crossed the St. Lawrence, sur- 
prised the guard at Elizabethtown, took fifty-two prisoners, 
among whom were one major, three captains, and two lieuten- 
ants ; and captured one hundred and twenty muskets, twenty 
rifles, two casks of fixed ammunition, and other public proper- 
ty. He then returned, without the loss of a single man. 

Soon after, it was discovered that the British meditated an at 
tack on Ogdensburgh. Colonel Benedict called out his regiment 
of militia, to aid in the defence of the place. They appeared on 
the 21st of February, with twelve hundred men; and with this 
force, so much superior to that of Forsythe, succeeded in expel- 
ling him from the town, after a sharp conflict. The British 



104 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

General Pike. 

attacked in two columns, of six hundred men each, at eight 
o'clock in the morning, and were commanded by captain 
M'Donnel, of the Glengary light infantry, a corps trained with 
peculiar care, and colonel Frazier, of the Canada militia. The 
Americans kept up the contest for an hour, with the loss of 
twenty men killed and wounded ; and from the cool and de- 
liberate aim of the riflemen, the enemy must have lost twice 
that number, among whom were five officers of distinction. 
A flourish was made by the British of this affair ; and a message 
was sent with the news to colonel M'Feeley, commanding the 
American garrison of Niagara, informing him that a salute 
would be fired from Fort George. The American officer ex- 
pressed his satisfaction at being able to return the compliment, 
as he had just received intelligence of the capture of his ma- 
jesty's frigate Java, by an American frigate of equal force ; and 
intended to fire a salute from Niagara, at the same time, in 
honour of this brilliant victory. 

Bodies of new levies were daily arriving at Sackett's Har- 
bour, and the vicinity of that place. To convert new recruits, 
in the course of a few months, into efficient troops, was an 
operation not easily performed. Indefatigable industry was 
displayed in this essential duty by Pike, lately promoted to the 
rank of a brigadier, in consequence of his meritorious services, 
and increasing reputation. Pike was cradled in the camp ; his 
father, a revolutionary officer, was still in the army, but too far 
advanced in life for active service. He was acquainted with 
all the details of the military profession, having served in 
every grade from a soldier to the general. He possessed an 
ardent mind, and was animated by a desire of martial glory and 
renown ; but such glory and renown as were compatible with 
the welfare of his country. The models which he had placed 
before him, were somewhat of a romantic cast ; he desired to 
combine the courage of the soldier, and the ability of the com- 
mander, with those ornaments of character which become the 
man. Pike was already a favourite in the United States, and 
distinguished as the adventurous explorer of the immense Wes- 
tern desert, traversed in another direction by Lewis and Clarke. 
He had here given proofs of much fortitude of mind, vigour of 
body, and great prudence and intelligence. His zeal and activity 
were afterwards conspicuous, in the success with which he form- 
ed the regiment placed under his command. He was beloved 
by his troops, whose affections he knew how to engage, and into 
whom he could infuse a portion of his own generous spirit. It 
is not surprising, therefore, that the progress made by the 
troops, at Sackett's Harbour, under the unceasing attention of 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 105 

Taking of York. 

this accomplished officer, should be unusually rapid. Nothing 
was wanting but an opportunity, on opening of the campaign, 
to lead them to the achievement of some glorious exploit. 

This opportunity was not long in presenting itself. The 
lake was no sooner clear of ice, than a descent on the Canada 
shore was projected. York, the capital of Upper Canada, was 
the depot of all the British military stores, whence the wes- 
tern posts were supplied. It was known that a large vessel 
was on the stocks, and nearly completed. The importance of 
the place to either party was immense. Should an attack on 
it prove successful, it might be followed up by an immediate 
attempt upon Fort George ; and the forces then, concentrating, 
and aided by the fleet, might, with every prospect of success, 
move against Kingston. 

About the middle of April, the commander-in-chief, after con^ 
ference with Pike and other officers, determined on attacking 
York. Major Forsythe, who had returned to Ogdensburgh on 
the retreat of the British, was ordered with his rifleman to re- 
pair to Sackett's Harbour ; and commodore Chauncey received 
orders from the navy department, to co-operate with general 
Dearborne, in any plan of operations which b-; might wish to 
carry into execution. On the 25th of April, the fleet moved 
down the lake, every arrangement having been made for the 
projected attack. The plan, which had been principally sug- 
gested by Pike, was highly judicious ; and, at his particular re- 
quest, he was entrusted with its execution. On the 27th, at 
seven o'clock in the morning, the fleet safely reached the place 
of destination. The spot fixed on for this purpose was an 
open space at the ruins of Toronto, the former site of the fort, 
about two miles above the present tov/n of York. The debark- 
ation commenced at eight o'clock, and was completed at ten. 
The British, on discovering the fleet, hastily made the necessary 
dispositions to oppose the landing of the American forces. 
General Sheaffe advanced from the garrison, which was situa- 
ted above York, with his whole force, consisting of about seven 
hundred and fifly regulars and militia, and five hundred In- 
dians, besides a body of grenadiers, and a corps of Glengary 
fencibles. The Indians were placed in the thickets at the 
water's edge, near the expected points of debarkation, while 
the regulars were drawn up on the bank, and partly concealed 
in a wood. In pursuance of the plan of attack, the batteaux 
carrying Forsythe and his riflemen, first moved to the shore, 
at the point where the principal force of the enemy was sta- 
tioned. A galling fire of musketry and rifles was instantly 
opened on him. To have gone higher up would have deranged 



106 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Taking of York. 

the general plan ; he determined therefore to dash at once mto 
the thickest of the enemy ; but first ordered the oars to cease 
a moment, that he might give his riflemen an opportunity of 
returning their fire. 

Pike, who was attentively watching this movement, observed 
the pause, and not knowing its reason, instantly leaped into 
the boat provided for himself and his staff, at the same time 
ordering major King to follow, with a part of liis regiment. 
Before he reached the shore, however, Forsythe had landed, 
and was closely engaged with the whole British force. The de- 
tachment under King, consisting of the light artillery under ma- 
jor Eustis, a volunteer corps commanded by colonel M'Clure, 
and about thirty riflemen under lieutenant Riddle, now landed. 
Pike, placing himself at the head of the few first formed, and 
ordering the rest to follow rapidly, gallantly ascended the bank 
with his handful of men, under a shower of bullets from the 
grenadiers. He charged impetuously upon them; they were 
thrown ijito disorder and fled. This had scarcely been achieved, 
when the bugles of Forsythe announced that he had also been 
victorious ; the Glengary fencibles still kept up an irregular 
fire, but tlio Indians had fled. A fresh body of grenadiers now 
suddenly issued from the wood, and made a desperate charge 
on major King's regiment, which by this time was drawn up 
on the bank ; at first it faltered ; but in a moment rallied, re- 
turned to the charge, and drove the enemy from the field. The 
British were seen at a distance forming again ; but considera- 
ble reinforcements having by this time landed from the fleet, 
the British retreated to the garrison below. 

The whole of the troops having now landed, they were formed 
in the order contemplated in the plan of attack. The different 
bodies of troops under majors Lewis and Eustis, and colonels 
M'Clure and Ripley, were disposed in the most judicious 
manner, while Forsythe and his riflemen were to act on the 
flanks. The column then moved forward with the utmost pre- 
cision, and with as much regularity as the nature of the ground 
would permit, until they emerged from the wood, when a 
twenty-four pounder opened upon them from one of the enemy's 
batteries. The battery was soon cleared, and the column 
moved on to the second, which was. abandoned on the approach 
of the Americans, the enemy retreating to the garrison. Gen- 
eral Pike here ordered the column to halt, for the purpose of learn- 
ing the strength of the garrison, and obtaining further informa- 
tion : as the barracks appeared to have been evacuated, he sus- 
pected a stratagem, to draw him within the reach of some secret 
force. Lieutenant Riddle was sent forward to learn the situa- 




TAKING OF YORK, AND DEATH OF GENERAL PIKE. 




GALLANT DEFENCE OF FORT SANDUSKY, BY MAJOR CROGHAN 

See Page J 50. 



108 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 109 

Taking ol'York Explosion of a Magazine Death of General Pike. 

tion of the enemy. In the meanwhile, Pike, as humane as he 
was brave, occupied himself in removing a wounded British sol- 
dier from a dangerous situation ; and having performed this act 
of humanity, which speaks volumes in his favour, had seated 
himself on the stump of a tree, and entered into conversation with 
a Serjeant, who had been taken prisoner : when suddenly the air 
was convulsed by a tremendous explosion. The magazine, at 
the distance of two hundred yards, near the barracks, had blown 
up. The air was instantly filled with huge stones and fragments 
of wood, rent asunder and whirled aloft by the exploding of five 
hundred barrels of powder. This was the treacherous attack 
which the British had prepared, but which Pike could not have 
suspected. Immense quantities of these inflamed and black- 
ened masses fell in the midst of the victorious column, causing 
a havock which the arms of the enemy could not have effected, 
killing and wounding upwards of two hundred, and amongst 
the latter their beloved commander, the heroic Pike. The brave 
troops, though for a moment confounded by the shock, were 
soon called to their recollection by the national music, Yankee 
Doodle : the column was instantly closed up ; and they rent 
the air, in their turn, with three loud huzzas ! 

The wound of Pike, a severe contusion, was soon found to 
be mortal ; he still, however, preserved his undaunted spirit : 
" Move on my brave fellows, and revenge your general," he 
cried, addressing them for the last time. This they instantly 
obeyed. He was then taken up by some of his men, to be 
conveyed on board the ship ; scarcely had he reached the shore 
of the lake, when a loud and victorious shout from his brigade 
brightened, for a moment, the expiring lamp of life ; a faint 
sigh was all his strength would permit him to express. Shortly 
afterward, the British flag was brought to him by one of his 
soldiers ; at the sight of it, his eye again resumed its wonted 
lustre for a moment, and making signs for it to be placed under 
his head, he gloriously expired. Thus fell a warrior who will 
live with honour in the page of history. Brave, prudent and 
chivalrous, he was adorned with that moral excellence which 
is essential to the accomplished soldier and the real hero. 
As he terminated his career in the very day-spring of life, we 
can but imperfectly estimate what the ripened age of so much 
promise would have brought forth. No officer entertained a 
more refined sense of honourable warfare ; a proof of it is to 
be found in the orders which he gave on this memorable day, 
that any of his soldiers who should molest the possessions or 
persons of the inhabitants, or wantonly destroy the public pro 
perty, should suffer instant death. 

K 



no BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Taking of York. 

On the fall of general Pike, the command devolved on 
colonel Pearce, who advanced to the barracks, which he found 
already in the possession of Forsythe ; the enemy having re- 
treated to the fort. No one now being acquainted with the fur- 
ther execution of the plan of attack, the enemy was not imme- 
diately pursued ; otherwise the whole of the regulars and public 
stores must have fallen into our hands. The Americans, after 
nalting a short time, moved on towards the town ; and on draw- 
mg near it were met by officers of the Canada militia, with offers 
of capitulation. This produced some delay ; but it being sus- 
pected that it was only intended to facilitate the escape of 
general Sheaffe and the principal part of his regulars, and to 
gain time while they could destroy the military stores, and 
burn the vessel on the stocks, Forsythe and Ripley pushed 
forward, and were soon after followed by Pearce. The strictest 
observance of Pike's order, with respect to the treatment of the 
inhabitants and their property, was enjoined. At four o'clock 
the Americans were masters of the town. Although with jus- 
tice they might be enraged at the conduct of the British, 
for their barbarous and unmanly attempt to destroy them 
by a mine, the troops conducted themselves with the most per- 
fect order and forbearance ; perhaps considering this the best 
testimonial of respect for their brave leader. The stipulations 
of surrender were entered into with colonel Pearce, at the very 
moment the British were engaged in the destruction of the pub- 
lic property. By the terms of the stipulation, the troops, 
regulars and militia, naval officers and seamen, were surrendered 
prisoners of war ; all the public stores were given up, and all 
private property was to be guarantied to the citizens of York ; 
"every thing relating to the civil departments was to be respected ; 
and the surgeons, attending on the wounded, were not to be con- 
sidered as prisoners of war. 

It is gratifying to reflect that the deportment of the victors, 
on this occasion, was such as to extort praise even from the 
vanquished. So far from inflicting any injury on the inhabi- 
tants, a considerable portion of the public stores, which could 
not easily be transported, were distributed among them, and 
they expressed themselves highly satisfied with the conduct of 
the Americans. The principal civil officers of the place ad- 
dressed a letter of thanks to general Dearborne, for the strict 
regard which was manifested by the troops under his command, 
for the safety of the persons and property of the inhabitants. 

The commander-in-chief landed soon after the fall of Pike, 
but did not assume the immediate command until after the sur- 
render of the town. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. Ill 

Taking of York. 

Great assistance was rendered during the engagement by the 
co-operation of commodore Chauncey, after landing the troops. 
The vessels, in consequence of a contrary wind, were com- 
pelled to beat up to their several positions with great difficulty, 
and under a heavy fire from the batteries. When this was 
effected, they opened a galling and destructive fire, which con- 
tributed much to the success of the attack. In the squadron, 
three were killed and eleven wounded ; among the first, mid- 
shipmen Thompson and Hatfield, both much regretted. 

The loss on the American side was inconsiderable until the 
explosion of the " infernal machine," which caused it to amount 
to three hundred in killed and wounded. Several officers of 
merit were killed or wounded by the explosion. The aids of 
the general, captains Nicholson and Frazier, were wounded ; 
the first mortally : also, captain Lyon, captain Hoppock, lieu- 
tenant Bloomfield, and many other valuable officers. Much 
praise was bestowed on lieutenant-colonel Mitchell, of the 
third regiment of artillery : he formed the column after the 
explosion, and throughout the whole of the affair behaved 
with the greatest gallantry. Major Eustis, captains Scott, 
Young, Walworth, M'Glassin, and Stephen H. Moore of the 
Baltimore volunteers, who lost a leg by the explosion ; and 
Lieutenants Irvine, Fanning and Riddle, were named among 
the most distinguished of the day. 

There were taken from the British, one lieutenant-colonel, 
one major, thirteen captains, nine lieutenants, eleven ensigns, 
one deputy adjutant-general, four naval officers, and two hun- 
dred and fifty-one non-commissioned officers and privates ; 
and it was contended, that according to the capitulation, the 
commanding general, his staff, and all his regulars, ought to 
have been surrendered. There was certainly an unfair proce- 
dure on the part of the British general, as well in this business, 
as in the destruction of the public property after it had been 
fairly surrendered. With respect to the explosion, it was 
attributed by general SheafFe to accident ; and as a proof, he 
mentioned the circumstance of forty of his own men having 
been killed and wounded in the retreat. But the American 
officers, who witnessed the affair, were perfectly satisfied that 
it was designed. After the conflict had ceased for some time, 
and the magazine and barracks had been entirely abandoned by 
the enemy, the occurrence of such an accident was almost im 
possible ; and leads to the conviction, that a match had been 
purposely laid, intended to explode on the approach of the Ame- 
rican troops ; which, but for the fortunate precaution of their 
commander, would have involved them in one general destruc- 



112 BRyVCKENRIDGE'S 

Taking of York Taking of Forts George and Erie. 

tioii. It is unjust, on light grounds, to impute to the British gene- 
ral, conduct so dishonourable ; and but for the circumstances we 
have mentioned, it might be regarded as the unauthorized act of 
some base individual. The fact of a part of his own column hav- 
ing been overtaken by stones propelled to an immense distance, 
gives no weight to his exculpation : this may have proceeded 
from his not having calculated with sufficient accuracy for their 
own safety, although nothing could have been better timed for 
the complete destruction of our gallant countrymen. Had the 
explosion taken place in the midst of the fight, there might 
then be room for supposition that it was the result of accident ; 
but, under the circumstances, that this should have been the 
case, appears next to impossible. The loss of the British, 
amounted to seven hundred and fifty men in killed, wounded 
and prisoners : of these, the killed and wounded were not 
less than two hundred ; the prisoners amounted to fifty regulars, 
and five hundred militia. Property to an immense amount 
was destroyed, and there still remained to the value of at least 
half a million of dollars : in his hasty retreat, general Sheaffe 
abandoned his baggage, containing all his books and papers, 
which proved a valuable acquisition. Upon the whole, the 
capture of York was a brilliant achievement, and worthy of 
Pike, its projector. It was the first dawn of that military dis- 
tinction, to which we afterwards so rapidly attained under the 
gallant officers whom the school of experience had fashioned. 

The object of this expedition being now fully attained, the 
American forces evacuated York on the 1st of May, and re-em- 
barked. The fleet, however, did not leave the harbour until 
the 8th. A schooner had in the meantime been despatched 
to Niagara, to inform general Lewis of the success of the ex- 
pedition, and of the intended movements of the troops. 

The next thing to be undertaken, was the attack of Fort 
George and Fort Erie, which had been unsuccessfully attempted 
the year before. Commodore Chauncey having the command 
of the lake, forces could be transported to any part with facility. 
On the evening of the 8th, the troops were landed at Four 
Mile creek, so called, from being four miles distant from 
Niagara. The next day, two schooners, under the command 
of lieutenant Pettigrew, sailed with a detachment of one hun- 
dred men, commanded by captain Morgan of the Twelfth, for the 
purpose of destroying some of the enemy's stores at the head 
of the lake. On their approach, the guard, about eighty men, 
retired ; the public buildings were burnt, and the party returned 
with the greater portion of the property. On the 10th, commo- 
dore Chauncey sailed to Sackett's Harbour, for the purpose ol 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 113 

Taking of Forts George and Erie. 

leaving the wounded men and officers, and of bringing such 
additional force as could be spared from that place. He again 
sailed on the 22d, leaving the Pert and the Fair American to 
watch the movements of the enemy. Two days afterwards he 
arrived safely at Niagara, with three hundred and fifty men of 
colonel Macomb's regiment of artillery, and an additional num- 
ber of guns. 

Arrangements were now made for carrying the contemplated 
enterprise into immediate execution. Commodore Chauncey 
having, on the 26th, reconnoitered the opposite shore, and ascer- 
tained the best places for landing, and the stations for the 
smaller vessels to occupy ; the next morning was fixed upon for 
the attack. A number of boats were made ready ; and others, 
which had been building for the occasion, were launched in the 
afternoon ; this being observed by the enemy, a fire was open- 
ed upon the workmen from a battery, erected for the purpose, 
nearly opposite. This brought on a severe cannonade from 
the forts and batteries, which continued for some hours, and in 
which the Americans had the decided advantage. Fort George 
appeared to suffer considerable injury. The guns of the Ame- 
rican battery were directed with so much precision, that the 
halliards of the flag-stafi' were shot away, and the buildings of 
every description around the fort were much damaged : while 
the loss on the American side was very inconsiderable. All 
the boats in the meanwhile passed safely to the encampment at 
Four Mile creek : and as soon as it grew dark, the artillery 
was put on board the Madison, the Oneida, and the Lady of the 
Lake ; the troops were to embark in the boats and follow the 
fleet. At three o'clock in the morning, signal was made to 
-weigh ; but in consequence of the calm which prevailed, the 
schooners were obliged to resort to sweeps to gain their 
stations. These consisted of the Julia, Growler, Ontario, 
Governor Tompkins, Conquest, Hamilton, Asp, and Scourge ; 
each within musket shot of the shore, and skilfully disposed 
to attack the different batteries, and cover the fending of our 
forces. The troops had now all embarked, and amounted to 
about four thousand men ; and at daybreak, generals Dearborne 
and Lewis, and suites, went on board the Madison. The ene- 
my's batteries immediately opened, as the troops advanced in 
three brigades. The advance was led by that accomplished 
officer colonel Scott, who had so much signalized himself in 
this place the year before ; and was composed of Forsythc's 
riflemen, and detachments from various infantry regiments : it 
landed near the fort, which had been silenced by the Governor 
Tompkins. General Boyd, to whom the brigade lately com- 

K * 



114 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Taking of Forts George and Erie. 

manded by general Pike had been assigned, formed the first 
line, which was flanked by the Baltimore and Albany volun- 
teers under colonel M'Clure. He reached the shore immedi- 
ately after the advance had landed. General Winder followed, 
at the head of the second brigade, and was closely succeeded 
by the third, under General Chandler. The wind suddenly 
springing up from the east, and producing a considerable 
swell, the troops from the Madison and Oneida could not 
reach shore until the second and third brigades had advanced ; 
Macomb's regiment, and the marines under captain Smith, 
therefore, did not land until the debarkation had been com- 
pleted. 

The advance under Scott, consisting of five hundred men, 
had been exposed, on its approach to the shore, to an incessant 
volley of musketry, from at least twelve hundred regulars, sta- 
tioned in a ravine. This spirited corps, composed of the flower 
of the army, moved on without faltering, and briskly returned 
the fire from the boats. As they drew near the shore, a sur- 
prising degree of emulation manifested itself both amongst 
ofiicers and soldiers ; many of them leaping into the lake, and 
wading to land. Captain Hindman, an accomplished young 
officer of the second artillery, was the first on the enemy's ter- 
ritory. No sooner were the troops formed on the beach, than 
they were led to the charge, and instantly dispersed the enemy 
in every direction ; some flying to the woods for shelter, and 
others seeking refuge in the fort. The first were briskly as- 
sailed by Forsythe ; while the advanced corps and the first bri- 
gade, under general Boyd, vigorously attacked the latter. The 
prevailing panic had seized the garrison, which made but a 
feeble resistance. Fort Niagara, and the batteries on the Ame- 
rican side, opened at the same time ; and Fort George having 
become untenable, the British laid trains to their magazines, 
abandoned all their works, and retreated with the utmost pre- 
cipitation by different routes. Colonel Scott and his light 
troops followed closely in their rear, when he was recalled by 
general Boyd. Lieutenant Riddle, with his party, not receiv- 
ing the order, pursued the enemy almost to Queenstown, and 
picked up a number of stragglers. The light troops took pos- 
session of Fort George ; captains Hindman and Stockton en- 
tering first, and extinguishing the fire intended to explode the 
magazine. The former withdrew a match at the imminent haz- 
ard of his life. General Boyd and colonel Scott mounted the 
parapet for the purpose of cutting away the staff*; but Hind- 
man succeeded in taking the flag, which he forwarded to gene- 
ral Dearborne. The American ensign was then immediately 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 115 

Taking of Forts George and Erie. 

hoisted ; and the troops ordered in and quartered. At twelve 
o'clock the whole of the British fortifications on this shore, 
from Fort George to Fort Erie inclusive, were in the quiet 
possession of the Americans. The enemy had moved off with 
such rapidity, that in a short time nothing more of them was 
to be aeen ; and our troops, having been eleven hours under 
arms, were too much fatigued to pursue them far. The loss 
of the British in this affair, considering the time during which 
the contest lasted, was very considerable. There were one 
hundred and eight killed, and one hundred and sixty wounded, 
who fell into our hands : besides which, one hundred and 
fifteen regulars, and five hundred militia, were taken prisoners. 
The loss of the Americans was thirty-nine killed, and one 
hundred and eight wounded : among the former, lieutenant 
Hobart of the light artillery ; and of the latter, major King of 
the Thirteenth, captains Arrowsmith of the Sixth, Steel of the 
Sixteenth, Roach of the Twenty-third (who had been wounded 
the year before at the heights of Queenstown, and promoted 
to the rank of captain for his good conduct on that occasion), 
and lieutenant Swearingen of the rifle corps. The Forty-ninth 
British regiment, the Invincibles, was in this affair, and its com- 
mander, colonel Myers, wounded and taken prisoner. The ac- 
tion, notwithstanding, was fought on the American side with 
inferior numbers ; the advance, and part of Boyd's brigade, only, 
having been actually engaged. Shortly after the surrender of 
the fort, the lake became so rough as to render the situation of 
the fleet somewhat dangerous. Commodore Chauncey, there- 
fore, found it necessary to weigh ; and proceeding up the river, 
chose a place of safety betvveen the two forts, where he an 
chored. 

High praise was given, both by the commodore and general 
Dearborne, to the forces under their respective commands. 
Scott and Boyd were particularly mentioned. The commander- 
in-chief also acknowledged himself much indebted to colonel 
Porter, of the light artillery, to major Armistead, of the Third 
regiment of artillery, and to captain Totten of the engineers, 
for their skill in demolishing the enemy's forts and batteries. 
We here find the first mention of the hero of Lake Erie, lieu- 
tenant-commandant Oliver H. Perry, who had volunteered his 
assistance on the night of the 26th, and had rendered good 
service in the arrangement and debarkation of the troops. 
Much of the success of this gallant enterprise was attributablo 
to the judicious plan of commodore Chauncey, in attacking the 
different batteries of the enemy with his vessels, and rendering 
them untenable. General Dearborne had been much indis- 



116 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Battle of Stony Creek. 

posed ; but he refused to yield the command of the expedition 
and issued his orders from his bed. 

Lieutenant Perry was despatched, the day after the battle, to 
Black Rock, with fifty men, for the purpose of taking five ves- 
sels to Erie as soon as possible, and also of preparing the 
squadron at that place, to commence operations, in conjunction 
with general Harrison, by the 15th of June. 

A few days afterwards, it was ascertained that the enemy, 
under general Vincent, had retired to the Beaver Dams, and 
formed a junction with the command of lieutenant-colonel 
Bishop from Fort Erie and Chippewa. The day after this 
was effected, the British general retreated hastily to the upper 
end of Lake Ontario, and took a position on the heights at the 
head of Burlington Bay. His force, it was supposed, did not 
exceed a thousand men. General Winder, at his request, was 
detached, by the commander-in-chief, in pursuit, with his 
brigade. Having reached Twenty Mile creek, on the second 
day's march, the general received information, that the enemy 
had been reinforced by several hundred men from Kingston ; 
that his force, besides Indians, and a few militia, might 
amount to fifteen hundred men : he, in consequence, thought 
it prudent to despatch an officer to General Dearborne for an 
additional force ; that under his command not exceeding twelve 
hundred infanti^y, exclusive of the dragoons under colonel 
Burns, and Towson's artillery. He nevertheless continued his 
march to Forty Mile creek, where, selecting a good position, he 
proposed to wait for the expected reinforcement. This, con- 
sisting of Chandler's brigade, in a short time arrived, after a 
rapid march ; when general Chandler, being the senior officer, 
assumed the command. 

On the same day, the united force proceeded to a rivulet 
called Stony Creek, where they encamped, having in the 
course of the afternoon skirmished with, and driven back the 
advance parties of the enemy. In order to secure the baggage 
of the army, which had been conveyed in batteaux along 
the lake shore, colonels Christie and Boerstler, with their 
respective regiments, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth, were 
detached, to take a position at the distance of two miles from 
the main body, on the neck of land which divides the lake 
from Burlington Bay, and on the road from Fort George to 
York and Kingston. The distance of the main body of the 
British was about eight miles. 

The ground occupied by general Chandler was a high bank 
on Stony Creek ; on the opposite side of the stream there was 
a small meadow, and the bank was much lower. He halted im- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 117 

Battle of Stony Creek. 

mediately on the road, as the centre of his encampment. The 
Filth, a small detachment of the Twenty-third, and one company 
of the Sixteenth infantry, occupied a height, a short distance to 
the left. The object of this was to prevent, in case of a night 
attack, the occupation of ground which commanded the road ; 
while, at the same time, the troops stationed there could, with 
facility, be wheeled into line with the Twenty-fifth, along the 
high bank of the creek. The light artillery of captains Tow- 
son and Leonard, were posted immediately to the right of the 
last mentioned regiment, so as to command the road in the 
direction of the enemy. The cavalry, under colonel Burns, 
were placed in the rear, to be ready at a moment's warning. 
A guard of eighty or a hundred men was posted a quarter of a 
mile in advance, at a wooden chapel on the road side. In other 
respects the usual precautions were taken. 

The situation of the British army was almost hopeless. To 
contend openly with the superior force of the Americans, was 
out of the question. No possibility of escape remained but 
by marching through the thinly inhabited country towards 
Detroit, and joining general Proctor ; or attempting the fortune 
of a night attack. The first, in their present deficiency of 
supplies, was considered almost impracticable : the latter was, 
therefore, resolved upon. The existence of this alternative 
could not have escaped the penetration of the American gene- 
rals ; and therefore the necessity of the utmost precaution. To 
the ultimate character of the campaign, the capture of the 
British would be of the greatest importance : as the necessary 
consequence, the contest to the westward would terminate, for 
it would no longer be possible for Proctor to hold out, after his 
communication with the lower provinces had been cut off. 

Until late in the evening, the soldiers of the Twenty-fifth had 
occupied the meadow ground on the opposite side of the creek, 
where they had kindled fires for the purpose of cooking ; but 
towards midnight they were withdrawn to the position assigned 
them on the brow of the high bank. This precaution had well 
nigh proved fruitless, from the negligence and misconduct of 
the main guard. Several of the sentinels in advance were si- 
lently bayoneted by the enemy, who, unmolested, pushed a co- 
lumn of seven or eight hundred men past the chapel : our guard 
must have been buried in sleep, since not a shot was fired. 
On approaching the fires made by the Twenty -fifth, and which 
had not yet been extinguished, the enemy raised a tremendous 
Indian yell, expecting no doubt to bayonet the Americans, 
whom they supposed to be asleep a few paces from them. 
This yell was most fortunate for the Americans, who were 



1 1 8 BR ACKENRIDGE'S 



Battle of Stony Creek Capture of Generals Chandler and Winder. 



instantly roused on the opposite bank. Tlie Twenty-fifth 
had lain on their arms, and instantly commenced a heavy fire 
on the British, who were revealed by the fires which had de- 
luded them. General Winder, who commanded the troops on 
the left of the road, succeeded in a few moments in stationing 
the greater part of them on the edge of the creek, to the left 
of the artillery, and joined his fire with that of the Twenty- 
^ fifth, which was by this time returned by the enemy, though 
with little effect. In twenty minutes the firing on the part of 
the British ceased ; and as they liad become invisible after pass- 
ing the fires, the night being excessively dark, it was uncertain 
whether they had retired, or meant, under cover of the dark- 
ness, to charge with the bayonet. The firing on the part of the 
Americans was ordered to cease ; and arrangements were rapid- 
ly made to repel an attack. At this moment some shots in the 
rear of the army induced the general, who was apprehensive 
that an attempt might also be made in that quarter, to order 
one of the regiments to face about, and take such a position, 
as would enable him to meet it, whether made on flank or rear. 
Whilst general Chandler was directing these movements on the 
right, his horse fell under him. After recovering somewhat 
from the fall, which had stunned him, he attempted to walk 
towards the centre, near the artillery, where he and general 
Winder had met from time to time, to receive and communicate 
information and orders. In the meantime, favoured by the 
excessive darkness, which had been increased by the smoke, 
the enemy stole along the road unperceived, and mingling with 
the American artillerists, drove them from their pieces. At the 
same moment general Chandler, being surrounded by them, 
was taken prisoner. 

General Winder, in returning from maintaining the disposi- 
tions on the left, met with a part of the Sixteenth, which had 
either never reached its position, or had fallen back, and was 
posting it to protect the artillery, when, discovering some con- 
fusion there, he rushed forward to ascertain the cause, and was 
made prisoner in attempting to turn back what he supposed to 
be the American artillerists. The British finding two pieces 
limbered, drove them off, overturned one or two more, and then 
retreated with precipitation and disorder. Before clear day- 
light they had covered themselves from the view of the Ameri- 
cans by a wood. General Vincent, the British commander, was 
thrown from his horse, and did not rejoin his troops until even- 
ing, almost exhausted with fatigue. Several gallant efforts 
were made by the American troops, to recover the artillery. 
Lieutenant W. M'Donough prevented the capture of one 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 119 

Battle of Stony Creek. 

piece, and lieutenant M'Chesney another ; these officers, as 
well as colonel Burn and colonel Milton, and captains Hind- 
man, Archer, Steel and Leonard, were highly complimented in 
general orders. 

The American loss was sixteen killed, and thirty-eight 
wounded ; and two brigadiers, one major, three captains, and 
ninety-four men missing. The loss of the enemy was much 
more severe, particularly in officers ; one hundred prisoners 
were taken. Blame was attached to general Chandler, who 
commanded, and also to general Winder : to the former with 
very little reason ; and to the latter with still less justice, as 
he only met with such misfortune as the bravest and most pru- 
dent are subject to. Had the enemy been immediately pursued, 
there is little doubt they would have fallen into our hands ; 
but colonel Burn, who now commanded, after consultation with 
the officers, judged it most prudent to fall back on Forty Mile 
creek. Here he was joined by colonel Miller's regiment, 
which had been sent to guard the boats ; and generals Lewis 
and Boyd : the former of whom now assumed the command. 

The British claimed in this affair a splendid victory. The 
accidental capture of the American generals would seem to give 
it the appearance of one ; but in the action they were certainly 
beaten with great loss. Their object, however, was effected 
by the attack, though not to the extent which they had ex- 
pected. 

A flag having been sent into our camp under pretence of 
obtaining information of the killed and wounded, and permission 
to bury the dead, but in reality to procure information ; general 
Vincent immediately despatched a messenger to sir James Yeo, 
advising him of the position of the Americans. On the 8th, sir 
James, with his squadron, appeared abreast of the encampment, 
and within a mile of the shore. He attempted to destroy the 
boats, and warped in a large schooner for the purpose; but 
captains Archer and Towson, hastily constructing a furnace, 
opened a fire with hot shot, which compelled him to haul 
off. A party of Indians now appeared upon the brow of the 
mountain, but were soon dislodged by lieutenant Eldridge, who 
gained the summit with a few volunteers, in advance of the 
detachment which was ordered for the purpose. Sir James 
demanded a surrender, with the usual story of Indians in the 
rear, a fleet in front, and regulars on the flanks ; but this artifice 
had grown stale, and could be played off no longer. Orders 
having been received from General Dearborne, for the army to 
return to Fort George, the greater part of the camp equipage 
and baggage were put in boats. These were intercepted by an 



120 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

British attack Sackett's Harbour, 

armed schooner of the enemy, and twelve of them taken. The 
army broke up its encampment about ten o'clock, and took up 
its march for Fort George, harassed nearly the whole way by 
Indians, who hung upon its flank. 

The movements of general Dearborne against the British 
fortifications on the Niagara, had well nigh cost him dear. 
The British, having obtained information of it, resolved to seize 
the opportunity of the absence of our troops and fleet, to at- 
tack Sackett's Harbour. They well knew the importance to 
us of this place. It was the depository of all our naval and mill 
tary stores; both those captured at York, and those which had 
been collecting for a year with a view to the operations against' 
Canada. Its convenient locality had caused it to be selected as 
the place at which to fit out our navies of the lake ; and great 
quantities of timber and other materials were here collected for 
the construction of vessels. The new ship, the General Pike, 
was on the stocks, nearly ready to be launched, and the prize, 
the Gloucester, lay in the harbour. No time was lost in 
carrying into effect this important enterprise. Sir George 
Prevost selected a thousand of his best men, and embarked them 
on board the fleet under commodore James Yeo. Scarcely had 
commodore Chauncey arrived at Niagara, when sir James 
showed himself off the harbour, with the Wolf, the Royal 
George, the Prince Regent, the Earl Moira, and some smaller 
vessels. The small vessels under lieutenant Chauncey, placed 
to give notice of the enemy's approach, espied the squadron, 
on the 27th, and hastened to the harbour, firing guns of alarm. 
This was immediately followed by the alarm guns on the 
shore, to bring in the militia, and to give notice to such regu- 
lars as might be near enough to hear them. Lieutenant-colonel 
Backus, of the dragoons, had been left in command of the 
place ; but in case of attack, general Brown, then at his resi- 
dence, eight miles ofT, was requested to take the command, 
although his brigade of militia had retired to their homes, their 
term of service having expired. The whole of our regular 
force consisted of a few seamen, lieutenant Fanning's artillery, 
and about two hundred invalids, not exceeding in the whole five 
hundred men ; and colonel Mills's Albany volunteers and some 
militia, amounting to about five hundred more. On the 28th, 
the enemy was seen at the distance of about five miles, and 
seemed to be standing for the harbour, when a fleet of Ameri- 
can barges was discovered coming round North Point, with 
troops from Oswego. Their attention was now occupied by 
these, and they succeeded in cutting off twelve of them ; and 
taking it for granted that there were many more, they stood off 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 121 

British attack Sackett's Harhoiir— ropitlsod by General Brown. 

a.l the day, with a view of intercepting them. In the mean- 
while general Brown was diligently occupied in arrangements 
for the defence of the place, in making which he discovered 
much judgment. But a small part of the ground adjacent to 
the village was cleared, the rest being surrounded by woods. 
At the only point of landing, a battery and breast-work were 
hastily constructed, and the militia placed behind them ready 
to receive the enemy as they landed, and to open a fire upon 
them in conjunction with the artillery. The regular troops, and 
the light artillery, were stationed in a second line, nearer the 
barracks and public buildings. On the approach of the ene- 
my's boats, which were commanded by Sir George Prevost in 
person, a well directed fire, which had been reserved until then, 
compelled them to pause ; and several officers and men were seen 
to fall. Encouraged by this fire, our militia were engaged in 
loading a second time, with the artillery to sustain them ; when 
suddenly they were seized by some unaccountable panic ; a panic 
to which corps composed of the bravest men individually are lia- 
ble on being engaged for the first time ; and fled in confusion. 
Their officers in vain attempted to rally them ; and their brave 
commander, colonel Mills, in attempting to effect it, was shot 
dead from his horse. The enemy now landed with little opposi- 
tion, and, having formed, advanced to the barracks, but were for 
a moment checked by a vigorous attack from a party of infantry 
under major Aspinwall, and the dismounted dragoons undcx 
major Laval. These were compelled, by numbers, to retreat 
A sharp conflict now commenced with the regulars and artil- 
lery under colonel Backus ; which retired gradually, taking 
possession of the houses and barracks, and thence continuing 
to annoy the enemy. The colonel, about this time, fell, severely 
wounded. Shortly after the flight of the militia, generaV 
Brown succeeded in rallying the company of captain M'Nitt, 
about ninety in number : with this he assailed the rear of the 
British, and in his own words, "did some execution." Find- 
ing that there was now little hope of repelling an enemy so 
superior in force, and every moment gaining ground, he resort- 
ed to a ruse de guerre : a considerable part of the militia, now 
ashamed of their panic, having collected near the scene of ac • 
tion, he instantly formed them, and marched them silently 
through the woods, so as to be discovered by the enemy. On 
which, sir George Prevost, believing that his rear was about to 
be cut off, ordered a retreat, which became a precipitate flight tcy 
the boats, and left all his wounded and a number of prisoners 
The resistance at the barracks had been exceedingly obsti- 
nate : a destructive fire was poured from the buildings, whil."^ 

L 



122 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

British attack Sackett's Harbour— repulsed by General Brown. 

lieutenant Fanning, though severely wounded, still directed one 
not less so from his piece of artillery. Captain Gray, a valua- 
ble British officer, and an accomplished gentleman, was shot by 
a small boy, a drummer, who snatched up a musket and fired 
at him, as he was advancing at the head of a column, to storm 
one of the barracks. This boy, who was an American, had 
served him in his kitchen, and on the war breaking out, had 
returned home : he now approached his former master while 
in his last agonies, and owned that he had shot him. Captain 
Gray generously forgave him, and with a nobleness of soul of 
which there are but too few examples, took out his watch 
and presented it to him with these words, " My brave little fel- 
low, you have done well." It is delightful to read such traits 
even in an enemy : whether the boy deserved this encomium 
is a matter to be settled by casuists. 

During the battle, information having been communicated to 
lieutenant Chauncey, that our troops had been defeated, he im- 
mediately, according to orders previously received, set fire to 
the public store houses ; and the fire was not extinguished un- 
til considerable damage had been done. The loss of the Ame- 
ricans in this affair was, one colonel of volunteers, twenty regu- 
lars, and one volunteer, killed ; one lieutenant-colonel, three 
lieutenants and one ensign, and seventy-nine men, non-commis- 
sioned ofiicers and privates, of the regulars, wounded ; and twen- 
ty-six missing. The loss of the enemy amounted to three field 
officers, two captains, and twenty rank and file, found dead upon 
the ground ; two captains, and twenty rank and file, wounded ; 
besides those killed and wounded in the boats, and carried away 
previous to the retreat. On the same evening, lieutenant-colo- 
nel Tuttle arrived, after a forced march of forty miles, with 
about six hundred men ; and other reinforcements were rapidly 
coming in from every quarter. 

Notwithstanding this, a modest demand to surrender was 
made by sir George Prevost, which he soon after as modestly 
changed into a request that the killed and wounded in our hands 
should be respectfully attended to ; in answer to which he 
received satisfactory assurances. On his return to Kingston, 
he issued a vaunting proclamation, in which he announced a 
splendid victory, which no one believed. The injury inflicted 
on us was certainly considerable, but fell far short of the object 
of this expedition ; and that the enemy was compelled precipi- 
tately to retreat, he could not pretend to deny. General Brown 
received and deserved applause for his conduct on this occasion : 
he here laid the groundwork of his military celebrity. 

Shortly after this affair, commodore Chauncey returned with 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 123 

Resignation of Dearborne . . Town of Sodus attacked . . Affair at Beaver Dams. 

his squadron ; and general Lewis, taking command of the place 
set about repairing the buildings and public store houses ; 
while general Dearborne, whose increasing indisposition dis- 
qualified him for active command, retired from service, leaving 
colonel Boyd in command of Fort George. 

On the 16th of June, lieutenant Chauncey, who had been 
ordered to cruise off Presque Isle with the Lady of the Lake, 
captured the Lady Murray, with some officers and privates, be- 
sides a quantity of military stores. 

About the same time, a devastating and plundering party 
of the British made an attack on the village of Sodus, where 
some public stores were deposited. On their approach, these 
were concealed in the woods, until the militia could be assembled 
to defend them. The British, exasperated at their disappoint- 
ment, set fire to all the valuable buildings in the town, destroyed 
the private property of individuals, and were only induced to 
desist from the entire destruction of the place, on the stipula- 
tion of the inhabitants to deliver the public stores at the wharf. 
The militia soon after appearing, the Britsh were compelled 
to decamp with the booty they had already collected. They 
made a second attempt a few days afterwards, but were pre- 
vented from landing by the appearance of the militia. This 
marauding expedition had no pretext of retaliation to cover it. 

Shortly after, an affair of some moment took place at Beaver 
Dams, in which our arms again experienced a severe reverse. 
A detachment of our troops had been ordered out for the purpose 
of dislodging the enemy at La Goose's house, about seventeen 
miles from Fort George, where they had been stationed for some 
time, in the neighbourhood of two other parties of them still 
more formidable, but which were both nearer to Fort George. 
Lieutenant-colonel Boerstler was selected to command it. The 
expedition had no rational object, was dangerous, and ill-judged. 
The Americans had not proceeded more than half way, when 
Indians were seen skulkina; across the wood in their rear : a 
camp of several hundred of these lay between them and the pomt 
to which they were going. The Indians now made an attack 
from the adjoining woods ; and although at last compelled to fly, 
they kept up the fight long enough for the British parties to come 
up to their assistance on all sides. Colonel Boerstler made a 
brave resistance, which he continued until his ammunition was 
nearly expended, and a third of his detachment placed hors de 
combat. His rear was assailed by a large body of British and 
Indians ; and no way of retreat remaining but by cutting his way 
through the enemy, he proposed a charge upon them. He had 
been twice summoned to surrender ; and on consultation with 



124 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Lieutenant Eldridge . . Indians taken into tlie Service . . British attack Black Rock. 

his officers, it was agreed to capitulate under stipulations similar 
to those made by general Winchester, and which were but little 
better respected. 

A {"ew days after this, the British, having been greatly rein- 
forced by general De Rottenburgh, invested the American 
camp ; general Vincent was stationed at Burlington heights, 
and De Rottenburgh at Ten Mile creek. 

The New York volunteers were detained at the head of the 
lake, contrary to their parol, and on the 12th were ordered to 
Kingston ; but on the way, a number effected their escape. 

During the remainder of this and the succeeding months, a 
war of posts was kept up between the two armies. On the 
8th of July, a severe skirmish was brought on, in which nearly 
the whole force on each side was engaged, without any thing 
of moment resulting from it. An incident, however, occurred, 
which exasperated the Americans to a greater degree than any 
thing which had transpired during the war in this quarter. 
Lieutenant Eldridge, a gallant and accomplished youth, with 
about forty men, was drawn by his impetuosity too far, and was 
surrounded by British and Indians. The greater part resisted 
until they were killed ; but lieutenant Eldridge, and ten others, 
were taken prisoners, and never afterwards heard of. The bo- 
dies of the slain were treated in the most shocking manner by the 
Indians ; their heads were split open, and their hearts torn out, by 
those monsters, the allies of a Christian king ! General Boyd, 
considering the forbearance hitherto practised in declining the 
aid of Indian allies as no longer justifiable, and by way of pre- 
venting a recurrence of these barbarities of the British Indians, 
accepted the services of four hundred warriors of the Seneca 
nation, under Young Cornplanter, or Henry O'Beal, an Indian, 
educated at one of our colleges, but who, on his return, had 
resumed the blanket. It was, however, positively stipulated, 
that the unresisting and defenceless should not be hurt, and 
that no scalps should be taken ; a stipulation which was abided 
by during the whole war. 

On the 11th of July, a force of two hundred of the enemy 
crossed the Niagara, and attacked Black Rock ; the militia sta- 
tioned there at first fled, but soon returning, with a reinforce- 
ment of regulars and Indians, compelled them to fly to their 
boats, with the loss of nine of their men killed, and their com- 
mander, colonel Bishop, mortally wounded. 

On the 28th of July, a second expedition was undertaken 
against York, which had been re-captured by the enemy after 
the battle of Stony Point. Three hundred men, under colonel 
Scott, embarked in commodore Chauncey's fleet, and suddenly 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 125 



Second taking of York British devastate the Borders of Lake Cham plain. 



landing at that place, destroyed the pubHc stores and property, 
released a number of colonel Boerstler's men, and returned 
to Sackett's Harbour, with a triflino; loss. 

The British, who were at this time pursuing a system of 
devastation along our seaboard, which will be recounted in the 
next chapter, were at the same time engaged in laying waste 
the country on the borders of Lake Champlain. A small navy 
had been set on foot by both sides, on this lake, in the begin- 
ning of the year ; but that of the United States was thus far 
less prosperous than that of the enemy. The whole American 
force, on this lake, consisted of a few armed barges, some gun 
boats, and two schooners, the Growler and Eagle, under lieu- 
tenant Sydney Smith. In the beginning of July, the schooners 
were attacked near the entrance of this lake into the St. Law- 
rence, and after a severe resistance of three hours, against a 
very superior force, were compelled to surrender. The British, 
being now masters of the lake, cruised along its borders, land- 
ing in various places, and committing many depredations on 
the property of the inhabitants. On the 31st of July, twelve 
hundred men landed at Plattsburgh, where no resistance was 
made, a sufficient body of mihtia not being collected in time ; 
they first destroyed all the public buildings, and then wantonly 
burnt the store houses of several of the inhabitants, and carried 
off great quantities of private property. The same outrages 
were committed afterwards at Swanton, in the state of Vermont. 
These acts served only to provoke the inhabitants, and render 
*hem better disposed to give the enemy a warm reception at 
3ome other period. 

On Lake Ontario, a naval armament which might be termed 
formidable for this inland sea, was arrayed on either side ; and an 
interesting contest ensued, between two skilful officers, for the 
superiority. The General Pike, of twenty-two guns, having 
been launched, and proving to be an excellent sailer, commodore 
Chauncey was now fully equal, in point of strength, to his anta- 
gonist. Sir James Yeo, though somewhat inferior in force, 
had the advantage in an important particular : his ships sailed 
better in squadron, and he could therefore avoid or come to 
an engagement as he thought proper. It being a matter all 
important to the British, to prevent the Americans from be- 
coming masters of the lake, sir James prudently avoided a 
general action ; while, on the other hand, to bring him to ac- 
tion, was the great object of commodore Chauncey. On the 
7th of August, the two fleets came in sight of each other. 
Commodore Chauncey manoeuvred to gain the wind. Having 
passed to the leeward of the enemy's line, and being abreast of 



126 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Cruise of Commodore Chauncey on Lake Ontario, 

his van ship, the Wolf, he fired a few guns to ascertain whether 
he could reach the hostile fleet. The shot falling short, he 
wore, and hauled upon a wind to the starboard tack ; the rear 
of his schooners being six miles astern. Sir James wore 
also, and hauled upon a wind on the same tack ; but observ- 
ing that the American fleet would be able to weather him in 
the next tack, he tacked again, and made all sail to the north- 
ward. Commodore Chauncey pursued him. He continued 
the chase until night ; but the schooners not being able to keep 
up, a signal was made to relinquish the pursuit, and to form 
in close order. The wind now blew heavily; and at midnight, 
two of the schooners, the Scourge and the Hamilton, were 
found to have overset in the squall. Lieutenants Winter and 
Osgood, two valuable otTicers, were lost, and only sixteen men 
of the crews saved. The next morning, the enemy, discovering 
this misfortune, and having now the superiority, manifested a 
disposition to engage the Americans, and bore up for the pur- 
pose. Two schooners were ordered to engage him ; but when 
they were within a mile and a half of him, he attempted to cut 
them off. Failing in this, he hauled his wind, and hove to. A 
squall coming on, commodore Chauncey was fearful of being 
separated from his dull sailing schooners, and ran in towards 
Niagara and anchored. Here he received on board, from Fort 
George, one hundred and fifty men to act as marines, and dis- 
tributed them through his fleet. On the morning of the 9th, 
he again sailed. At eleven o'clock, after much mancEuvring on 
both sides, the rear of the enemy's line opened its fire ; and 
in fifteen minutes the action became general on both sides. At 
half past eleven, the American weather line bore up, and passed 
to the leeward, the Growler and Julia excepted, which soon 
after tackins; to the southward, brouo;ht the British between 
them and the remainder of the American fleet. Sir James, 
after exchanging a few shot with the American commodore's 
ship, pursued the Growler and Julia. A firing commenced 
between them, which continued until one o'clock in the morn- 
ing of the 10th ; when, after a desperate resistance, the two 
schooners were compelled to yield. The fleets had lost sight 
of each other in the night ; but as sir James on the next day, 
when they were again visible, showed no disposition to renew 
the action, commodore Chauncey returned to Sackett's Har- 
bour. A victory for this afl^air was claimed by the British com- 
mander. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 127 



War on the Coast. 



CHAPTER IX. 



War on the Coast— British attack Lewistown— Gun-Boats attack some British 
Vessels of War— Exploits of Cockburn— Attack on Frenchtown— Plundering and 
Burning of Havre de Grace— of Georgetown and Fredericktown— Arrival of Admi- 
ral Warren and Sir Sj'dney Beckwith— Southern Cities threatened— Attack on 
Craney Island— gallantly repulsed— Hampton assaulted and plundered— Enormities 
committed there— Correspondence between General Taylor and Sir Sydney Beck- 
with— Cockburn plunders the Coast of North Carolina— Blockade of the American 
Squadron at New London by Commodore Hardy— Torpedo System. 



During the first year of the war, Great Britain, being deeply 
engaged in the important transactions then going on in Europe, 
had little time to attend to the war with this country. The 
forces which she could spare, had been sent to Canada ; and not 
one of our ports could be said to have been in a state of actual 
blockade. The change in the face of things in Europe, how- 
ever, gave her a greater disposable force, and more leisure ; 
while our victories on the ocean awakened her attention, and 
kindled a desire for revenge. Long before spring, it was 
known that a British squadron had arrived at Bermuda, with 
a body of troops on board, and well supplied with bombs and 
rockets, for the purpose of attacking some of our southern 
cities and towns. A distinction was made between the north and 
south, from the belief, that the northern states were not merely 
unfriendly to the war, but were strongly inclined to secede 
from the union, and return to their former allegiance to the 
king of England. 

We are now about to enter upon a species of hostilities, 
entirely new among civilized people. The scenes which we 
must pass in review, can scarcely be spoken of in terms of 
moderation ; and the chief actors of them can never be other- 
wise regarded, than as the perpetrators of enormities from 
which the honourable warrior would shrink with instinctive 
horror and disgust. 

It was soon understood that the war to be carried on against 
the Atlantic coast in the spring, was to be a war of havock and 
destruction ; but to what extent was not exactly known. The 



128 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



War on the Coast British attack Lewistown. 



enemy " talked of chastising us into submission." It was there- 
fore expected that our large commercial towns, cow somewhat 
fortified against the approach of their shipping, would be vigor- 
ously attacked ; and it was probable that they would be much 
injured, and not impossible that they might be reduced to ashes. 
Preparations for resistance were made, by stationing small 
bodies of regular troops at dilTerent points along the seaboard ; 
which were to form rallying points for the militia, when their 
aid should be required. A number of marines and seamen, 
belonging to public vessels which did not put to sea, were 
directed to co-operate in this service. 

On the 4th of February, a squadron consisting of two ships 
of the line, three frigates and other vessels, made its appearance 
in Chesapeake Bay, apparently standing for Hampton Roads. 
The alarm was immediately caught at Norfolk, and the militia 
were called in from the upper part of Virginia. No attempt, 
however, was made upon the town ; the enemy contenting him- 
self with destroying the smaller vessels employed in the naviga- 
tion of the bay, and effectively blockading its waters. About the 
same time, another squadron, under the command of commodore 
Beresford, consisting of the Poictiers, the Belvidera and some 
other vessels, entered the Delaware, which in the same 
manner destroyed a number of small trading vessels, and 
attempted several times to land some men, who were as often 
repulsed by the militia, hastily collected. On the 10th of April, 
sir John Beresford made a demand on the people of the village 
of Lewistown, for a supply of provisions, which was spiritedly 
refused by colonel Davis, commanding at that place. Captain 
Byron, of the Belvidera, was ordered to move near the village, 
and bombard it until the demand should be complied with. 
This was obeyed, but without effect : after a cannonade of 
twenty hours, the enemy were unable to make any impression 
on the place. Their fire had been returned from some batteries 
rapidly thrown up on the bank, with considerable effect. On 
the 10th of May, the same squadron sent out their barges in 
the neighbourhood of Lewistown, to procure water. Major 
George Hunter was detached by colonel Davis, with one hun- 
dred and fifty men, to oppose their landing, a duty which he 
performed with so much gallantry, that they were compelled to 
retreat to their shipping precipitately. The squadron soon 
after returned to Bermuda, where sir John Borlace Warren, 
who commanded on this station, was engaged in fitting out a 
more considerable armament, for the attack of our sea-coast 
during the summer. 

Soon af^er the departure of this squadron, the Spartan and 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 129 

Gun Boats attack some British Vessels of War Exploits of Cockburn. 

some other vessels entered the Delaware. One of them, the 
sloop of war Martin, was discovered on the 29th of July, slightly 
grounded on the outer edge of Crow's shoals. A detachment 
of the gun-boat flotilla, at that time near the place, immediately 
moved, and anchoring about three quarters of a mile from the 
sloop, opened a destructive fire upon her. The Junon frigate 
soon after came to her relief. A cannonade was kept up during 
an hour between the gun-boats and these two vessels, in which 
the latter suffered great injury. Finding it impossible to drive 
off this musquito fleet, the enemy manned their launches, tenders 
and cutters, to cut off" the gun-boats at the extremity of the 
line. Gun-boat No. 121, commanded by sailing-master Head, 
was unfortunately taken, after a desperate resistance against 
eight times her number. The British soon after retired, having 
extricated the Martin from her situation. 

Scenes of a different kind were, in the meanwhile, acting in 
the Chesapeake. The blockading-squadron, which had returned 
in February, was engaged in carrying on a predatory war 
along the shores and inlets. It was here that Cockburn, a rear- 
admiral in the British service, commenced those exploits, for 
which he afterwards became so notorious ; and of which he 
may justly claim to be the originator. At first, they were 
directed against detached farm-houses, and the seats of private 
gentlemen unprepared for and incapable of defence. These were 
robbed, and the owners treated in the rudest manner. The 
cattle which could not be carried away, were doomed to wanton 
destruction ; and the slaves, armed against their owners, were 
persuaded, in imitation of the example of their new friends, to 
attack and plunder the defenceless families and property of their 
masters. It was impossible to station a force at each farm- 
house, to meet these miserable and disgraceful incursions. Yet, 
in several instances, they were bravely repelled by militia, who 
collected without authority and under the guidance of no leader. 
Cockburn took possession of several islands in the bay, par- 
ticularly Sharp's, Tilghman's and Poplar islands ; whence he 
seized the opportunity of making descents upon the neighbour- 
ing shores, at such times as the inhabitants happened to be off 
their guard : but the spirited citizens of Maryland, by station- 
ing bodies of infantry and cavalry at intervals along the shore, 
ready to be drawn out at a moment's warning, prevented the 
success of many of them. 

Encouraged by the results of his attacks on the farmers and 
their hen-roosts, and rendered more rapacious by the booty 
already obtained, Cockburn now resolved to undertake some- 
thing of a bolder and more adventurous character, in which his 



130 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Attack on Frenchtowa Plundering and Burning of Havre de Grace. 

thirst for plunder, and his love of mischief, might be gratified 
in a higher degree. He therefore directed his attention to the 
unprotected villages and hamlets along the bay; carefully avoid- 
ing the larger towns, the plundering of which might be attended 
with some danger. The first of his exploits was against the 
village of Frenchtown, containing six dwelling-houses, two large 
store houses, and several stables. This place was important, as 
a point of intermediate deposit for the lines of transportation 
between the cities of Philadelphia and Baltimore ; and Cock- 
burn rightly conjectured that here there might be private pro- 
perty to a considerable amount. He accordingly set out on this 
expedition, from his ship the Marlborough, in barges, with five 
hundred marines; a number sufficient to have carried the town 
on their backs. Some show of resistance was made by a small 
party of militia collected from Elkton, which retired as the 
admiral approached. The store houses were destroyed ; to- 
gether with such goods as could not be carried off, to an immense 
amount. Amongst other objects of wanton destruction, was an 
elegant drop-curtain, belonging to the theatres of the cities 
before mentioned. The brand was applied to some of the pri- 
vate dwelling-houses, and to several vessels lying at the wharf; 
after which, the British, fearing the approach of the militia, 
hastily returned to their shipping. 

The next exploit of the admiral was of still greater import- 
ance. The town of Havre de Grace is situated on the Sus- 
quehanna, about two miles from the head of the bay, and is a 
neat village, containing twenty or thirty houses. An attack on 
this place was the next object in the plan of his operations. 
Accordingly, on the 3d of May, before daylight, his approach 
was announced by the firing of cannon and the discharge of 
numerous rockets. The inhabit9.nts, thus awakened from their 
sleep, leaped up in the greatest consternation ; and the more 
courageous repaired to the beach; where a few small pieces of 
artillery had been \ lanted on a kind of battery, for the purpose 
of defence against the smaller watering or plundering parties 
of the enemy. After firing a fev/ shots on the approaching 
barges, they all, with the exception of an old citizen of the 
place of the name of O'Neill, fled, abandoning the village to 
the mercy of Cockburn. O'Neill alone continued to fight, load- 
ing a piece of artillery, and firing it himself, until, in recoiling, 
it ran over his thigh and wounded him severely. He then 
armed himself with a musket, and keeping up a fire on the 
advancing column of the British, which had by this time landed 
and formed, limped away to join his comrades, whom he 
attempted in vain to rally. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 131 



Plundering and Burning of Havre de Grace. 



No sooner had the enemy taken possession of the village by 
this sudden and bold assault, than they set themselves about 
destroying the private dwellings, and plundering their contents. 
Having glutted their avarice, they then amused themselves with 
every species of barbarous and wanton mischief. The houses 
being now on fire, they cut open the beds of the inhabitants, 
and threw in the feathers to increase the flame. Women and 
children fled shrieking in every direction, to avoid the brutal 
insolence of the British seamen and marines, and no where did 
they find a protector amongst these savages. Their clothes 
were torn from their backs, and they felt themselves at every 
moment in danger of being massacred. Not on women and 
children alone were these outrages committed ; the horses be- 
longing to the public stages were cruelly maimed, and the stages 
themselves broken to pieces. Determined that their character 
should not be equivocal, these worse than Vandals, selected as the 
next object of their barbarous vengeance, a neat and beautiful 
building, dedicated to the worship of the Almighty, and took unu- 
sual pains to deface its doors and windows. One building yet 
remained undemolished, an elegant dwellins; belonmns to com- 
modore Rodgers. Here the most respectable females of the 
town had taken refuge with their children ; believing that a 
naval officer would not wantonly insult the unprotected wife of 
a brave and gallant seaman, who was then absent in the service 
of his country. The officer to whom the task of conflagration 
had been assigned, already held the torch, when by much soli- 
citation he was induced to wait a few moments, until an ap- 
peal to the admiral could be made. It proved successful ; and 
it is mentioned to his praise, that he refrained on one occasion 
only from that the doing of which would have been the climax of 
brutality. No further mischief remaining to be perpetrated 
in the village, the enemy divided their force into three bodies , 
and while one remained to keep watch, the others proceeded 
to lay waste the adjacent country. One party pursued the 
route towards Baltimore for several miles, plundering the farm- 
houses, and robbing the travellers on the road of their clothes 
and money ; the other marched up the river, committing similar 
outrages. It were endless to enumerate the acts of cruel and 
wanton injury, inflicted by this party, during the short time 
which they remained. On the 6th, to the great satisfaction of 
the inhabitants, these savages, than whom those of the west 
were not worse, returned to their fleet. The gallant O'Neill, 
who had been taken prisoner, was carried with them and de- 
tained severed days ; at the end of which time they thought pro- 
per to release him. The inhabitants of the village, many of 



132 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Plundering and Burning of Georgetown and Fredericktovvn. 

whom were almost ruined, threw themselves on the humanity 
of their fellow-citizens of Baltimore, who contributed so gene- 
rously to their relief, that they were soon after enabled to com- 
mence the rebuilding of their houses. 

Elated with the profitable issue of this descent, in which a 
rich booty was obtained with so little danger, the enemy was 
eager for some other enterprise equally honourable to the Bri- 
tish arms. On the river Sassafras, which empties itself into the 
bay, stood Georgetown and Fredericktown, two beautiful vil- 
lages situated nearly opposite to each other, one in Kent, the other 
in Cecil county. These had attracted the attention of the admi- 
ral. His hired agents, for miscreants may be found in every 
country for such purposes, had informed him, that there he might 
glut his crew with plunder. On the 6th, placing himself at the 
head of six hundred men, in eighteen barges, he ascended the 
river, and proceeded towards Fredericktown. Colonel Veazy 
had collected here about fifty militia ; and, on the approach of the 
barges, he immediately commenced a heavy fire with langrel 
shot and musketry. The greater part of the militia soon fled, 
leaving the colonel to oppose the enemy as he could ; he, notwith- 
standing, kept up a steady fire, until they approached so near 
that he was compelled to retreat. The admiral boldly advanced 
to the town, plundered the houses, and in spite of the entreaties 
of the women and children, again acted the incendiary. Leav- 
ing Fredericktown in flames, he passed to the opposite side of 
the river, whence, after treating the village of Georgetown in 
the same manner, he returned, glutted with spoil and satiated 
with wanton havock. 

Not long after this, admiral Warren entered the bay, with a 
considerable reinforcement to the fleet, and a number of land 
troops and marines under the command of sir Sidney Beckwith. 
He had seized some of the vessels employed in the navigation 
of the bay, with the view of using them in penetrating those 
inlets which were impervious to the larger tenders. To oppose 
the small parties which he sent out, the government hired a 
number of barges and light vessels, which, by moving from 
place to place with great rapidity, tended to keep him in check. 

By the arrival of admiral Warren, the hostile force in the 
Chesapeake was increased to seven ships of the line, and twelve 
frigates, with a proportionate number of smaller vessels. The 
appearance of this formidable armament created much alarm in 
the more considerable towns along the neighbouring coast. 
Baltimore, Annapolis, and Norfolk were threatened ; and it 
soon became evident that the latter of these places was selected 
to receive the first blow 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 133 

Southern Cities threatened Attack on Craney Island. 

On ihe 18th, commodore Cassin, having received intelligence 
tliat a squadron of the enemy had arrived in Hampton Roads, 
commenced the necessary dispositions for repelHng the invader. 
The frigate Constellation was anchored between the two forts, 
commanding Elizabeth river, on which the city of Norfolk is 
situated. At this place nearly ten thousand of the Virginia mili- 
tia had collected. A detachment of the gun boat flotilla was 
ordered in the meanwhile to descend the river, and engage the 
foremost of the enemy's frigates. Captain Tarbell, by whom 
it was commanded, proceeded in two divisions : the first com- 
manded by lieutenant Gardner, and the other by lieutenant 
Henly. On the 20th, having brought his gun boats into a fa- 
vourable position, he opened a rapid fire upon the Junon fri- 
gate, at the distance of half a mile. This was returned ; and 
the cannonade continued for half an hour ; the frigate receiving 
much injury, while the gun boats suifered but little. Another 
vessel, which proved to be a razee, was now seen coming to her 
assistance ; and the fire of the Junon, which for a short time 
had been silenced, on the arrival of her consort and additional 
frigates, again opened. Captain Tarbell now deemed it expe- 
dient to retire. By this affair, the Junon was much shattered ; 
and her loss, considering the great disparity of force, was con- 
siderable. 

A formidable attack on Norfolk having been resolved upon 
by the British, it was necessary, preparatory to this, to subdue 
the forts by which it was protected. The nearest obstruction 
to the enemy's advances, was Craney Island ; and in the course 
of the day, the fleet in the bay dropped to the mouth of James 
River. Captain Tarbell gave orders to lieutenants Neale, Shu- 
brick, and Saunders of the frigate Constellation, to land a hundred 
seamen on the island, for the purpose of manning a battery on 
the northwest side ; while he stationed the gun boats in such a 
manner as enabled him to annoy the enemy from the opposite 
side. On the 22d, at daylight, they were discovered approach- 
ing in barges, round the point of Nansemond river, to the num- 
ber of four thousand men ; most of whom, it was afterwards 
ascertained, were wretched French troops, which had been taken 
prisoners hi Spain, and induced to enter the British service by 
the promise of being permitted to pillage and abuse the citi- 
zens of the United States. They selected a place of landing 
out of the reach of the gun boats ; but, unfortunately for them, 
not out of the reach of danger. When they had approached 
within two hundred yards of the shore, lieutenant Neale, assist- 
ed by lieutenants Shubrick and Saunders, opened a galling firo 
from his battery, and compelled them to pause. The battery 

M 



134 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Attack on Craney Island— gallantly repulsed. 

was manned by one hundred and fifty men, including lieutenant 
Breckenridge's naarines. An eighteen pounder which had been 
mounted on it was directed with so much precision, that sev- 
eral of the enemy's boats were cut in twain, and the men with 
difficulty escaped. The Centipede, the admiral's barge, was 
sunk, and the whole force compelled to make a precipitate 
retreat. No sooner was this discovered, than lieutenant Neale 
ordered his men to haul up the boats which had been sunk, 
and to afford the unfortunate sufferers every assistance in their 
power. 

A large party of the enemy which had landed on the main 
shore, and were crossing a narrow inlet to the west side, were 
not less warmly received by the Virginia volunteers. A short 
time before the approach of the barges, this body of men, 
about eight hundred in number, attempted to cross to the island 
by the inlet of which we have spoken. Colonel Beatty, who 
had been posted, with about four hundred men, on the island, 
planted two twenty-four pounders, and four sixes, to oppose 
the passage, under the direction of major Faulkner, aided by 
captain Emerson, and lieutenants Howel and Godwin. The 
conflict commenced at the same moment that the attack was 
made on the party approaching by water ; and the enemy 
was compelled to relinquish his attempt in this quarter also. 
His total loss was upwards of two hundred in killed and 
wounded, besides a number of his men, who seized the oppor- 
tunity to desert. 

The safety of the city of Norfolk, and of Gosport, Ports- 
mouth and other surrounding towns, is to be attributed to 
the resolute defence of Craney island. The conduct of lieu- 
tenant Neale, and his brave companions, Shubrick, Saunders, 
and Breckenridge, received the grateful acknowledgements of 
the inhabitants. Colonel Beatty and his officers, and two non- 
commissioned volunteers, sergeant Young and corporal Moffit, 
were no less entitled to praise for the parts which they took in 
this interesting affair. 

This unexpected repulse enraged the enemy beyond measure ; 
but at the same time that their desire of revenge was excited, 
they were taught greater prudence in the selection of the object 
of attack. A consultation took place between admiral Warren, 
sir Sidney Beck with, and Cockburn, which resulted in a deter- 
mination to attack the town of Hampton, about eighteen miles 
distant from Norfolk. There was a garrison here, consisting 
of about four hundred men, artillerists and infantry. The fortifi- 
cations of the place were very inconsiderable ; and the town itself 
was of little more importance than the village whieh had been 



HISTORY OF TIIR WAR. 135 

Hampton assaulted and plundered Enormities committed there. 

pillaged by Cockburn. It was thought, that by the possession 
of this place, the communication between Norfolk and the upper 
part of Virginia would be entirely cut off. On the 25th, the plan 
of attack having been adjusted, admiral Cockburn advanced 
towards the town, with a number of barges, tenders and smaller 
vessels, throwing rockets, and keeping up a constant cannonade ; 
while sir Sydney landed below, at the head of two thousand men, 
intending to march up and gain the rear of the Americans. Ad- 
miral Cockburn was so warmly received by major Crutchfield, 
the officer commanding at Hampton, who opened upon him a 
few pieces of artillery, that he was compelled instantly to draw 
back, and conceal himself behind a point. In the meanwhile, 
sir Sydney made his appearance, and was severely handled by 
a rifle company under captain Servant, which had been posted 
in a wood, near which he had to pass. Major Crutchfield soon 
after drew up his infantry in support of the riflemen ; but find- 
ing himself unable to contend with numbers so superior, he made 
good his retreat, not however without g.r?at difficulty. Cap- 
tain Pry or had been left to command the battery which opposed 
the enemy's approach from sea. The royal marines, having 
landed, had advanced within sixty yards of him ; and his corps, 
considering their situation hopeless, already regarded them- 
selves as prisoners of war ; when, ordering the guns to be spiked, 
and charging upon the enemy, he threw them into such con- 
fusion, that he actually effected his escape without the loss 
of a single man. The loss of the Americans in this affair, 
amounted to seven killed and twelve wounded : that of the 
British, according to their statement, was five filled and thirty- 
three wounded ; but it was probably much more considerable. 

Scarcely was this village in the possession of the invaders, 
\f hen full permission was given to the troops to gratify their 
worst passions and propensities. After enacting the usual 
scenes of shameless plunder and devastation, they proceeded to 
offer violence to the persons of those of the unfortunate inhabit- 
ants, whose age, sex or infirmities had prevented them from 
escaping. Was there no British officer who, on this occasion, 
felt for the honour of his country, and endeavoured, at the risk 
of his life, to rescue it from indelible reproach 1 It seems there 
M^as not one. An old man of the name of Kirby, unable to rise 
from his bed, was set upon and murdered in the arms of his 
aged wife, who, on daring to remonstrate, received the contents 
of a pistol in her breast ! To complete this barbarous act, they 
wantonly put to death his faithful dog ! Two sick men were 
murdered in the hospital ; the medical stores were destroyed ; 
and the wounded who fell into their hands, were not only de- 



136 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Correspondence between General Taylor and Sir Sydney Beckwith. 

nied medical aid, but even common sustenance. During two 
days, did the British thus throw aside, not merely the character 
of soldiers, but of men ; when, fearing an attack from the 
neighbouring militia, they withdrew with such precipitation, 
that a considerable quantity of provisions and ammunition, and 
some of their men, were left behind. 

This picture is by no means overcharged. Tt is founded on 
authentic evidence submitted to a committee of congress. The 
feelings of the people of Virginia were, if possible, more ex- 
cited by this affair, than were those of the citizens of Kentucky 
at the massacre by Proctor. General -Taylor, who commanded 
the station, addressed a letter to sir Sydney Beckwith, couched 
in terms of dignified, thrilling eloquence, such as the feelings 
of an honourable man alone can dictate. Afler stating the 
enormities of which the British had been guilty, he desired to 
be informed of the nature of the war which they intended to 
carry on against the United States ; whether the scenes enacted 
at Hampton were unauthorised by the British government, or 
whether that power had entirely thrown aside the usages 
which govern civilized nations when at variance. " Worth 
less," said he, " is the laurel steeped in female tears, and joy 
less the conquests which have inflicted needless woe on the 
peaceful and unresisting." Sir Sydney replied, that he was 
sorry for the excesses at Hampton ; and hoped that, in future, 
the war would be carried on with as much regard to humanity 
as possible. This evasive answer was not deemed satisfactory ; 
and one more explicit was required. He then declared that the 
excesses committed were in retaliation, for the conduct of the 
Americans at Craney island in shooting at the seamen who 
clung to a barge which had overset. General Taylor imme- 
diately instituted a court of inquiry, which proved the charge 
to be without foundation. On the result of this investigation 
being communicated to sir Sydney, he did not think proper to 
give a written reply : he promised, verbally, to withdraw his 
troops from the neighbourhood ; excusing himself, on the score 
of his io-norance of the kind of warfare to which his men 
had been accustomed in Spain ; and alleging, that as soon as he 
found them engaged in the excesses complained of, he had given 
orders for them to re-embark. It is unpleasant to implicate 
admiral Warren and sir Sydney Beckwith in this detestable 
affair ; but there was in the conduct of these two officers a 
shameful indifference upon a subject which so deeply regarded 
the character of the British government. 

The squadron, during the remainder of the summer, fre- 
quently threatened the cities of Washington, Annapolis and Bal 



HISTOllY OF THE WAR. 137 



Cockburn plunders the Coast of North Carolina. 



timore. Large bodies of militia were on several occasions 
drawn out, and the country was in consequence much harassed. 
This was fair and justifiable in the enemy, and is no subject of 
complaint ; and had any of our towns been laid in ashes while 
attempting a resistance, it would have been regarded only as a 
misfortune of war which the enemy had a right to inflict. Ad- 
miral Cockburn was permitted to pursue his own inclination, in 
moving to the south with a formidable squadron, to carry on, 
in the Carolinas and Georgia, the same species of warfare 
which he had so successfully practised in Chesapeake Bay. 
In the beginning of July, he appeared oft" Ocracoke, a village 
of North Carolina, and shortly after, crossing the bar with a 
number of barges, attacked two private armed vessels, the Ana- 
conda and the Atlas, which, after a gallant resistance, he cap- 
tured. The revenue cutter, then in port, made her escape to 
Newborn, and giving the alarm to the citizens, they assembled 
in such numbers that the admiral's designs upon that town 
were frustrated. Landing about three thousand men, he pro- 
ceeded to Portsmouth, and treated its inhabitants in his usual 
manner. He returned to his barges with a valuable booty, 
and a number of slaves, whom he had induced to leave their 
masters under a promise of freedom, which he afterwards 
redeemed by selling them in the West Indies. 

To the north of the Chesapeake, where fortunately these dis- 
graceful depredations were not committed, the coast was not 
exempt from the effects of war. The city of New York was 
strictly blockaded. The American frigates United States and 
Macedonian, and the sloop Hornet, attempted to sail on a cruise 
from that port about the beginning of May ; but finding the 
force at the Hook much superior to theirs, they put back, and 
passed through Hell Gate, with the intention of getting out by 
the sound. In this they were also frustrated; and on the 1st 
of June, after another attempt, they were chased into New Lon- 
don. Six hundred militia were immediately called in from the 
surrounding country, for the protection of the squadron ; and 
commodore Decatur, landing some of his guns, mounted a bat- 
tery on the shore, and at the same time so lightened his vessels, 
as to enable them to ascend the river out of the reach of the 
enemy. This place was so well fortified, however, that no 
attempt was made upon it, although the blockade was strictly 
kept up for many months. 

It is pleasing to contrast the conduct of commodore Hardy, 
who commanded the squadron north of the Chesapeake, with 
that of Cockburn. Although lie frequently landed on difl^erent 
parts of the coast, his deportment Avas such as might be 



138 BRACKENRTDGE'S 

Blockade of the American Squadron Torpedo System. 

expected from a manly, humane and generous enemy. If the 
proceedings of Cockburn were authorised by his government, 
they were dictated by a very mistaken policy ; for nothing could 
more effectually heal political differences, and render the war d 
common cause with every American. 

An act of congress had been passed during the winter, which 
cannot be mentioned but with feelings of regret. By this act, 
a reward of half their value, was offered for the destruction of 
ships belonging to the enemy by means other than those of the 
armed or commissioned vessels of the United States. This 
measure was intended to encourage the use of torpedoes, of 
which so much at that time v/as said. There is something 
unmanly in this insidious mode of annoyance. It is not justi- 
fiable for defence even against an unsparing foe ; and is but 
little better than poisoning fountains. Valour can claim no 
share in such exploits ; and to the noble mind little pleasure 
can be derived from the recollection of success over an enemy 
treacherously vanquished. It had been in the power of general 
Sinclair, in the war of the revolution, to have poisoned his spi- 
rituous liquors at the moment of his defeat, and thus to have 
destroyed a cruel enemy ; but shame would have followed the 
infliction of such an injury, even upon savages. 

Several attempts at blowing up the enemy's vessels were 
made, in consequence of the law. The most remarkable were 
those against the Ramillies, the admiral's ship, and the Planta- 
genet. The schooner Eagle, having been filled with flour bar- 
rels, and a quantity of gunpowder, with the latter of which a 
concealed gun-lock communicated, was thrown in the way of 
the blockading squadron's boats. Fortunately, the seamen, 
instead of taking her alongside of the Ramillies, determined first 
to unlade some of the cargo : while employed in doing this, 
the schooner blew up, and destroyed several of her captors. 
The next experiment made with the torpedo, was against the 
Plantagenet, then lying below Norfolk. After four or five 
attempts, in which the persons engaged could not come suffi- 
ciently near the ship without being discovered, the torpedo 
was dropped at the distance of a hundred yards, and left to be 
swept down by (he tide. On touching the vessel, it explodea 
in the most awful manner; causing an immense column of 
water to be thrown up, which fell with vast weight upon the 
deck of the ship ; while a yawning gulf seemed to swallow 
her up. The crew immediately took to their boats, completely 
panic-struck. Commodore Hardy was justly indignant at this 
dishonourable species of annoyance, and protested against it 
m strong terms. It had the effect, Jiowevcr, of compelling the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 139 

Torpedo System Naval Affairs. 

enemy to be extremely cautious in their approach to our har- 
bours ; and although the use of torpedoes was relinquished, 
their apprehensions served to keep them at a greater distance. 
If any thing could justify this mode of attack, it was the scenes 
at Hampton, and the deportment of Cockburn and his crew ; 
but commodore Hardy was a generous enemy, and merited 
different treatment. 



CHAPTER X. 



Naval Affairs— The Hornet captures the Peacock— Humane and generous Conduct 
of Captain Lawrence and the Crew of the Hornet— Captain Lawrence appointed to 
the Chesapeake — The Shannon challenges the Chesapeake— The Shannon captures 
the Chesapeake — Death of Captain Lawrence — The Pelican captures the Argus — 
Cruise of Commodore Porter in the South Seas— The Enterprize captures the Boxer 
— Cruise of Commodore Rodgers— Cruise of the Congress — Gallant Conduct of Ame- 
rican Privateers— of the Comet— of the General Armstrong— The Privateer Decatur 
captures the Dominica. 

It is now time to return to the affairs of our navy. Our ves- 
sels continued to annoy the enemy, in spite of the thousand ships 
with which she pursued them in squadrons through every sea. 
Instead of courting an engagement with them, she studiously 
avoided coming in contact, except where her force was greatly 
superior. The " fir built frigates" of America had suddenly 
become ships of the line, and Great Britain cut down her sev- 
enty-fours, that her vessels might engage with ours on equal 
terms. The government of the United States had become so 
sensible of the importance of our marine, that congress, during 
the last session, had authorised the building of several additional 
vessels ; and it was proposed to continue to augment our navy, 
by annual appropriations for the purpose. This was undoubt- 
edly wise policy ; for whatever we may fear from a standing 
army, there can be no similar ground of objection to a navy. 
Besides, it is only on that element that we can come in con- 
tact with an enemy of consequence. Fortunately for us, our 
territory adjoins to that of no power, from which we need ap- 
prehend any great danger : while the colonies of England and 
of Spain might have reason '^^r apprehension, if the genius of 



140 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

The Hornet captures the Peacock. 

our government were not opposed to conquest. On the ocean, 
however, we must unavoidably come in contact with other na- 
tions, so long as we pretend to have commerce ; for without a 
navy that commerce cannot be protected. 

In our last chapter on the naval war, it was mentioned, that 
the Hornet, captain Lawrence, was left to blockade the Bonne 
Citoyenne, at St. Salvador. This latter vessel was formally 
challenged by the Hornet : but either from unwillingness to 
risk the loss of a quantity of specie which she had on board, 
or because she was not inclined to engage in the combat though 
of superior force, she thought proper to pay no atttention to the 
challenge. Commodore Bainbridge had parted from the Hor- 
net at this place : and it will be recollected how gloriously he 
met the Java and captured her a few days afterwards. The 
Hornet continued the blockade until the 24th of January, 
when the Montague seventy-four hove in sight, and compelled 
her to escape into port. She ran out, however, the same 
night, and proceeded on a cruise. Her commander first 
shaped his course to Pernambuco ; and on the 4th of Febru- 
ary, captured the English brig Resolution, of ten guns, with 
twenty-three thousand dollars in specie. He then ran down 
the coast of Maranham, cruised off there a short time ; and 
thence off Surinam, where he also cruised for some time ; and 
on the 22d stood for Demerara. The next day, he discovered 
an English brig of war lying at anchor outside of the bar, and 
on beating around the Carabana bank, to come near her, he dis- 
covered, at half past three in the afternoon, another sail on his 
weather quarter, edging down for him. This proved to be a 
large man of war brig, the Peacock, captain Peake, somewhat 
superior to the Hornet in force. Captain Lawrence manoeu- 
vred some time to gain the weather gage of her ; but his efforts 
proving fruitless, he hoisted the American ensign, tacked about, 
and in passing her, exchanged a broadside at the distance of pis- 
tol shot. The Peacock being then discovered in the act of 
wearing, Lawrence bore up, received her starboard broadside, 
ran her close on board on the starboard quarter, and poured into 
her so heavy a fire, that in fifteen minutes she surrendered. 
At the moment of her surrender, she hoisted a signal of dis 
tress ; as she was literally cut to pieces, and had already si.\ 
feet water in her hold. 

Lieutenant Shubrick, the gallantry of whose conduct in thii 
affair was not less conspicuous than in the actions with the Guer 
riere and Java, was despatched to bring the officers and crew of 
the vanquished vessel on board the Hornet. He found that 
her captain had been killed, and the greater part of hex crew 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 141 



Humane Conduct of Captain Lawrence, and the Crew of the Hornet. 

either killed or wounded ; and that the vessel was sinking fast, 
in spite of every effort to keep her above water. Strenuous ex- 
ertions were made to take off the crew before the vessel sunk : 
her guns were thrown overboard, the shot holes were plugged ; 
and a part of the Hornet's crew, at the risk of their lives, laboured 
incessantly in the removal of the prisoners. The utmost efforts 
of these generous men were vain ; she sunk in the midst of them, 
carrying down nine of her own crew and three of the Ameri- 
can. Thus did our gallant countrymen twice risk their lives : 
first in the cause of their country, and next in the cause of hu- 
manity ; first to conquer their enemies, and then to save them. 
These are actions, which it unfortunately falls too rarely to the 
lot of the historian to record. The crew of the Hornet divided 
their clothing with the prisoners, who were left destitute by 
the sinking of the ship ; and so sensible were the officers of 
the generous treatment which they experienced from captain 
Lawrence and his men, that, on their arrival at New York, they 
expressed their gratitude in a public letter of thanks. " So 
much," say they, " was done to alleviate the uncomfortable 
and distressing situation in which we were placed, when re- 
ceived on board the ship you command, that we cannot better 
express our feelings, than by saying, we ceased to consider 
ourselves prisoners ; and every thing that friendship could dic- 
tate, was adopted by you and the officers of the Hornet, to 
remedy the inconvenience we otherwise should have experi- 
enced, from the unavoidable loss of the whole of our property 
and clothes, by the sudden sinking of the Peacock." This 
oraise is worth more than a victory ; and the conduct which 
elicited it is certainly much more deserving to be termed glo' 
rious than the destruction of human life, on whatever scale it 
may be accomplished. 

The number of killed and wounded, on board the Peacock, 
could not be exactly ascertained, but was supposed to exceed 
fifty ; while the Hornet received but little injury. The officers 
mentioned as having distinguished themselves on this occasion, 
were lieutenants Conner and Newton, and midshipmen Cooper, 
Mayo, Getz, Smoot, Tippet, Boerum and Titus. Lieutenant 
Stewart was unfortunately too ill to take a part in the action. 

On the 10th of April, shortly after the return of the Hornet, 
the Chesapeake arrived at Boston, after a cruise of four months. 
Her commander, captain Evans, having been appointed to the 
New York station, she was assigned to captain Lawrence. 

The British, whose mortification at their repeated defeats 
may be easily imagined, and who regarded the reputation of 
their navy as their great bulwark, had become seriously alarmed. 



142 BRACXENRIDGE'S 



Captain Lawrence The Sliannon cliallenges the Chesajieake. 

* ■ 

If the charm of their fancied superiority on this element were 
once destroyed, other nations, who now yielded to them the 
pahTi, might conceive the idea of resistance also. In some 
recent encounters, even the French, who had been so unfor- 
tunate in their naval combats with the British, had begun 
to pluck up courage. Something immediate must be done to 
retrieve their character, or all their naval songs must be burnt 
and their boastings suddenly terminate. The course was natur- 
ally fallen upon of selecting one of their best frigates, manned by 
picked seamen, and exercised with all possible pains, for the 
special purpose. They deigned to copy every thing which in 
reality, or which they fancied, prevailed in the American ships, 
A rumour was current, that backwoodsmen were placed in the 
tops of our vessels, expressly for the purpose of shooting the 
British officers. Sharpshooters were now carefully trained 
by the Bririjh, and directed to aim only at the officers of the 
Americans. Thus provided with a chosen ship and crew, cap- 
tain Brooke appeared with the Shannon on the American coast. 
In April, olf Boston harbour, he sent a challenge to the President, 
commodore Rodgers, which happened to be there. On the 23d, 
this vessel, with the Congress, captain Smith, sailed on a 
cruise ; but the Shannon, then in company with the Tenedos, 
either intentionally avoided them, or by accident happened to 
!)e out of the way. The Shannon some time afterwards re- 
turned, and sent a formal challenge to captain Lawrence, who 
had just taken the command of the Chesapeake, which unfor- 
tunately was not received by him. 

We are now to relate an occurrence which imparts a melan- 
choly tone to our naval chronicle, thus far so brilliant. Cap- 
tain Lawrence, on arriving to take command of his ship, was 
informed that a British frigate was lying before the harbour, 
apparently courting a combat with an American. Listening 
only to the dictates of his generous nature, he burned with 
impatience to meet the enemy, and unfortunately did not suffi- 
ciently pause to examine whether the terms were equal. The 
greater part of the Chesapeake's crew consisted of men who 
had just been enlisted ; several of his officers were sick ; and 
that kind of mutual confidence, which arises from a long know- 
ledge of each other, was wanting between himself and his 
men. But he could not brook the thou2;ht of beina: thus de- 
fied. On the 1st of June he sailed forth, resolved to try his 
fortune. When he came in sight of the Shannon, he made a 
short address to his crew, but found it received with no enthu- 
siasm ; they murmured, alleging as the cause of complaint that 
their prize money had not been paid. He immediately gave 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 143 



nie Shannon captures the Chesapeake Death of Captain Lawrence. 



Ihem tickets for it, and supposed they were now conciliated ; 
but, unfortunately, they were at this moment almost in a state 
of mutiny. Several foreigners, who had accidentally found 
their way into the crew, had succeeded in poisoning their minds- 
The brave Lawrence, consulting his own heart, looked only to 
the enemy without, and not to the enemy within. 

The Shannon, observing the Chesapeake, put to sea, and 
was followed by her. At half past five, the Chesapeake closed 
with the enemy, and gave him a broadside ; which was returned. 
It proved equally destructive on both sides ; but the Chesapeake 
was particularly unfortunate in the loss of officers : the sailing 
master. White, was killed; lieutenant Ballard, mortally wound- 
ed ; and lieutenant Brown, of the marines, and captain Law- 
rence himself, were severely wounded. The latter, although in 
great pain, still continued to give orders. A second and a third 
broadside were exchanged, with evident advantage on the side 
of the Chesapeake; but the same misfortune in the loss of offi- 
cers continued ; the first lieutenant, Ludlow, was carried below 
mortally wounded ; and three men successively were shot from 
the wheel. A ball having struck her foresail, so that she 
could no longer answer her helm, and being disabled in her 
rigging, the Chesapeake fell with her quarter on the Shannon's 
starboard anchor. This accident may be considered as having 
decided the contest ; an opportunity being thus given to the 
enemy to rake the Chesapeake, and, towards the close of the 
action, to board her. Captain Lawrence, although severely 
wounded, as before mentioned, still persisted in keeping the 
deck, and commanded the boarders to be called up ; at this mo- 
ment a musket ball entering his body, he was carried below, 
having first uttered those memorable words, which have since 
become the motto of the American navy. Don't give up the 
Ship. The officers of the Chesapeake being now nearly all 
killed, the command devolved on lieutenant Budd, who called 
up the men for the purpose of carrying the order of Lawrence 
into execution. At this time, captain Brooke, finding that his 
vessel had received so many shots between wind and water that 
there was danger of her sinking, and perceiving the confusion 
which reigned on board the American ship, threw twenty of his 
marines on board of her, and immediately followed them. Lieu- 
tenant Budd endeavoured to shoot his vessel clear of the Shan- 
non ; but being soon after wounded, and a part of the crew hav- 
ing mutinied, the scheme entirely failed. A number, however, 
continued to fight with unalterable resolution. Captain Brooke 
received a wound in the head, and was carried on board his own 
ship ; and lieutenant Watt, who succeeded him in the command. 



K4 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

The Shannon captures the Chesapeake. 

was killed ; but a large reinforcement coming to the assistance 
of the enemy, they gained possession of the deck, and soon 
after hoisted the English flag. 

In this sanguinary conflict, twenty-three of the enemy were 
killed, and fifty-six wounded : among the killed, her first lieu- 
tenant, her clerk and purser ; and among the wounded, her 
captain. On board the Chesapeake, the captain, the first and 
fourth lieutenants, the lieutenant of marines, the master, mid- 
shipmen Hopewell, Livingston, Evans, and about seventy 
men were killed ; and the second and third lieutenants, midship- 
men Weaver, Abbot, NichoUs, Berry, and about eighty men, 
wounded. The greater proportion of this loss was sustained 
afl;er the enemy had gained the deck. The British have been 
charged with cruel and ungenerous conduct towards the van- 
quished ; and we could wish that this charge, if untrue, had 
been properly repelled. It is said that, afl;er the Americans 
had submitted, the work of destruction \vas continued ; and 
fliat the treatment of the prisoners was not of that liberal cha- 
racter which might have been expected from manly victors. 
The generosity of their subsequent conduct leads us fo hope 
that these complaints were unfounded. The bodies of our 
naval heroes, Lawrence and Ludlow, on their arrival at Hali- 
fax, were interred with every honour, civil, naval, and mili- 
tary, which could be bestowed ; and no testimony of respect 
that was due to their memories was lefl: unpaid. They were 
afterwards brought to the United States, by Mr. Crowninshield 
of Boston, at his own expense, in a vessel manned by twelve 
masters of vessels, who volunteered their services for the occa- 
sion ; a passport having been readily granted for this purpose 
by commodore Hardy. 

The loss of the Chesapeake has been attributed to the acci- 
dent of her falling on board the Shannon, and to the mutinous 
state of her crew. She was somewhat inferior in force also : 
but this ought not to be taken into consideration ; for until the 
fatal accident, the advantage in the contest was decidedly hers. 

Never did any victory — not the victories of Wellington in 
Spain, nor even those of Nelson — call forth such expressions 
of joy, on the part of the British ; a proof that our naval cha- 
racter had risen somewhat in their estimation. In the United 
States it was regarded as an occurrence which proved no supe- 
riority in the enemy ; and it was lamented chiefly for the loss 
of our brave officers. 

The tide of fortune seemed for a short time to set in favour of 
Great Britain. On the 4th of August, another of our national 
vessels was captured by the enemy. The Argus, after carry- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 145 



The Pelican captures the Argus. 



ing out Mr. Crawford, our minister to France, in the spring of 
1813, proceeded, early in June, to cruise in the British chan- 
nel, where she continued for two months to commit great ha- 
vock on the British shipping. So much uneasiness did she 
cause, that the English merchants were unable to effect an in- 
surance on their vessels, under three times the usual premium. 
The British government was induced, at last, to adopt mea- 
sures for driving off this daring enemy. On the 14th, at four 
in the morning, the Pelican, a British sloop of war of greater 
force than the Argus, obtained sight of her by the light of a brig 
then on fire ; and immediately prepared to attack her. At five 
o'clock, the action commenced at the distance of musket shot ; 
the Pelican having the weather gage. At the first broadside, 
captain Allen, of the Argus, fell, severely wounded, but remained 
on deck until several broadsides were exchanged, when he was 
carried below, leaving the command to lieutenant Watson. At 
half past six, the rigging of the Argus was so cut up, as to ren- 
der her almost unmanageable ; and the lieutenant was severely 
wounded in the head. The command now devolved on lieutenant 
William H. Allen, Jun., who for some time, by great exertion, 
defeated the attempts of the Pelican to gain a raking position. 
At thirty-five minutes past six, the Argus, having lost her wheel 
ropes and running rigging, could no longer be manoeuvred, and 
the Pelican having chosen a position in which none of the guns 
of the Argus could be brought to bear upon her, the latter had no- 
thing but musketry to oppose to the raking broadsides of the other. 
At forty-seven minutes past six, she surrendered, with the loss 
of six killed and seventeen wounded. On board the Pelican, 
there were three killed, and five wounded. Captain Allen, and 
midshipmen Delphy and Edwards, died soon afterwards in 
England, and were all interred with the honours of war. The 
Pelican was a sloop of twenty guns, the Argus of eighteen ; but 
the victory, in this instance, may fairly be awarded to the 
English. Our officers and men did their duty ; but were com- 
pelled to submit to a more fortunate adversary. Captain Allen 
was justly a favourite in this country, and his memory is dear 
to his countrymen. 

By letters dated early in July, news reached the United States 
from captain Porter, that he had captured several British vessels 
in the South Seas, and was then cruising with great success. 
He had actually created a fleet of nine sail, by means of vessels 
captured on those seas, eight of which had been letters of 
marque ; and was completely master of the Pacific ocean. This 
may be regarded as a novelty in naval history ; and there is lit- 
tle doubt, had it been performed by an English naval com- 

N 



146 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Cruise of Porter in the South Seas The Enterprize captures the Boxer. 

niander, that it would have been applauded to the skies. By 
none of our commanders was there so much injury done to 
British commerce ; and against none of them were our enemies 
so profuse in their invectives. On the list of his captures were 
two fine English ships, pierced for twenty guns and carrying be- 
tween them sixteen, with fifty-five men, and having on board 
a considerable sum in specie. On the 26th of March, he fell 
in with a Spanish ship, the Nereyda, which had been engaged 
in capturing American ships : he took the liberty of throwing 
her guns overboard, and liberating the ships and prisoners which 
the pirate had captured. This is probably one of the grounds 
upon which commodore Porter was denominated a bucanier by 
the British. 

The enemy were not long permitted to rejoice in the con- 
quest of the Argus : victory once more returned to the side of 
justice, " free trade and sailors' rights." The American brig 
Enterprize, lieutenant commandant William Burrows, sailed 
from Portsmouth on a cruise, about the 1st of September. On 
the 5th, a large man of war brig was discovered, to which she 
gave chase. The enemy, after firing some guns, stood for 
the Enterprize with several ensigns hoisted. She proved to be 
the Boxer, of a force somewhat superior to that of the Enter- 
prize. A little after three, the firing commenced on both sides 
within pistol shot. After the action had continued fifteen min- 
utes, the Enterprize ranged ahead, and raked her for the space 
of twenty minutes. At the end of this period, the enemy 
ceased firing, and cried for quarter ; being unable to haul down 
her flag, as it had been nailed to the mast. The Enterprize had 
thirteen wounded and one killed, but that one was the lamented 
Burrows. He fell at the commencement of the action, but 
refused to quit the deck. He had requested that the flag might 
never be struck ; and when the sword of the enemy was pre- 
sented to him, he clasped it to his breast, and exclaimed with 
enthusiasm, " I die contented." Then, and not till then, would 
he permit himself to be carried below. The British loss was 
much more considerable, but was not properly ascertained : it 
was supposed, however, that between thirty and forty of the 
crew of the Boxer were killed and wounded ; among the former 
her commander, captain Blythe. The bravado of nailing the 
flag to the mast was an additional proof of the new light id 
which the Americans were now held by an enemy, which be- 
fore aflxicted to despise them. The two commanders, both most 
promising young men, were interred beside each other, at Port- 
land, with military honours. 

On the 26th of September, the President, commodore Rod- 



HISTORY OF TilK WAR. 147 



Cruise of Rodgerd — of the Congress American I'rivateers 



gers, arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, after a cruise of un- 
usual length. He had put to sea on the 30th of April, in company 
with the Congress, captain Smith. After cruising off our coast 
without any important occurrence, the commodore })arted from 
the Congress on the 8th of May, and shaped his course so as 
to intercept the British trade in the West Indies. Meeting with 
no success, he stood towards the Azores, where he continued 
until the 6th of June, without encountering any of the enemy's 
vessels. He now sailed in the direction of England ; and 
made four captures between the 9th and 13th of June. He 
next cruised in the track from Newfoundland to St. George's 
Channel, without meeting a single vessel ; and being short 
of provisions put into North Bergen on the 27th of June. 
Thence he steered towards the Orkneys, to intercept a convoy 
from Archangel ; but about the middle of July, when in mo- 
mentary expectation of meeting with it, he was chased by a 
ship of the line and a frigate for several days. Having effected 
his escape, he next placed himself in the direction of the trade 
passing out of and into the Irish Channel. In this position he 
made three captures ; when finding that the enemy had a supe- 
rior force near at hand, he made a circuit round Ireland, and 
steering for the banks of Newfoundland, made two captures 
there. On the 23d of September he captured, in a singular 
manner, the British schooner Highflyer, tender to admiral War- 
ren. On her approach to the President, she hoisted a private 
signal, which was answered by one that chanced to be the Bri- 
tish signal for that day : she accordingly bore down and was 
captured. By this means the British private signals, and admi- 
ral Warren's instructions, were obtained ; and the commodore 
was enabled to avoid their squadrons on the coast. He soon 
after arrived at Newport. 

The Congress, after parting from the President, continued 
at sea until the 12th of December, when she arrived at 
Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She had cruised chiefly on the 
coast of South America, and had captured a number of the 
enemy's vessels, among which were two armed brigs of ten 
guns each. 

It has already been said, that the character of our flag at 
sea, was supported not merely by our national vessels : there 
were numerous instances in which our private cruisers acquit- 
ted themselves in a manner which entitled them to honourable 
notice. The public attention, however, was so much occupied 
with the former, that the latter perhaps did not receive a due 
share of applause. A few instances may now be selected from 
Perhaps no action during the war displayed 



1 48 BR ACKENRIDGE'S 

American Privateers The Decatur captures tlie Dominica. 

more daring courage, and greater superiority of seamanship 
than the engagement of captain Boyle, of the Comet, with a Por- 
tuguese brig, and three armed merchantmen. After encounter- 
ing them all, and fighting them for several hours, he compelled 
one of the merchantmen to surrender, and the brig to sheer off, 
although of double the force of the Comet. This would appear 
almost incredible, if the details were not perfectly authenticated. 

On the 11th of March, off Surinam, the General Armstrong 
discovered a sail which she supposed to be a letter of marque, 
and after giving her a broadside, and wearing to give another, 
to her surprise she found herself alongside of a frigate, which 
soon opened such a heavy fire, as would have sunk the 
schooner, had she not succeeded in making her escape. 

On the 15th of August, the privateer Decatur, being on a 
cruise, discovered a ship and a schooner : the first proved to 
be the British packet, the Princess Charlotte ; the other the 
British vessel of war, the Dominica. She immediately stood 
towards them, and soon found herself abreast of the schooner. 
Both vessels continued to manoeuvre for two or three hours ; 
the Dominica endeavouring to escape, and the Decatur to 
board : during which time several broadsides were fired by the 
former, and some shot from the large gun of the latter. The 
Decatur at last succeeded in boarding ; a number of her men 
passing by means of her bowsprit into the stern of the enemy. 
The fire from the artillery and musketry was now terrible, 
being well supported on both sides. The Dominica not being 
able to disengage herself, dropped alongside, and was boarded 
by the whole crew of the Decatur. Fire-arms now became 
useless, and the crews fought hand to hand with cutlasses. 
The officers of the Dominica being all killed or wounded, she 
was forced to surrender. As soon as the combat was over, the 
Princess Charlotte tacked about and escaped. 

The Decatur was armed with six twelve-pound carronades, 
and one eighteen-pounder on a pivot, with one hundred and 
three men. Pier loss was three killed, and sixteen wounded. 
The Dominica had twelve twelve-pound carronades, two long 
sixes, one brass four-pounder, and one thirty-two pound car- 
ronade on a pivot, with eighty-three men. She had thirteen 
killed, and forty-seven wounded. The surviving officei's of 
the Dominica attributed their defeat to the masterly manosu- 
vring of the Decatur, and the superior skill of her crew in the 
use of musketry. The captain of the Dominica, a young 
man of about twenty-five years of age, was wounded early in 
the action ; but he fought to the last moment, declaring that he 
would surrender his vessel only with his life. 



IIlSTOPvY OF THE VVAPv. 149 

Aflairs of the West Patriotic Enthusiasm of Ohio and Kentucky. 

The Decatur arrived at Charlestown with her prize, on the 
20th of August. It is pleasing to record, that in this instance 
our brave tars did not depart from their accustomed generosity. 
The surviving officers of the Dominica spoke in the highest 
terms of the humanity and attention which they experienced 
from the victors. 



CHAPTER XI. 



Affairs of the West — Patriotic Enthusiasm of Ohio and Kentucky — Governor 
Shelby— Character of the Kentuckians— Gallant Defence of Fort Sandusky by Major 
Croghan — Humane Conduct of the Besieged — Tecumseh raises the Siege of Fort 
Meigs — Naval Preparations on Lake Erie — Commodore Perry sails with his Fleet — 
Battle of Lake Erie— Gallant Behaviour of Perry — Capture of the Enemy's whole 
Squadron — " We have met the Enemy, and they are ours" — North-western Army 
reinforced — Capture of Maiden — Skirmish at Chatham — Battle of the Thames— Cap- 
tare of the British Regulars — Colonel Johnson wounded — Death of Tecumseh — Cha- 
racter of Tecumseh — Escape of General Proctor— Public Testimonials of Respect to 
General Harrison — Generous Treatment of the British Prisoners— of the Savages — 
Correspondence between General Harrison and General Vincent. 

In the midst of the various occurrences of the war on the 
northern frontier, on the seaboard and on the ocean, important 
preparations were making to the westward ; and although the 
spring and summer had elapsed without the occurrence of any 
incident in this quarter worthy of record, they had not passed 
inactively. The general attention was now turned towards it 
with much anxiety ; and the armies of the Niagara and the St. 
Lawrence remained almost with folded arms, awaiting the respec- 
tive results of Harrison's campaign, and of the contest for the 
command of Lake Erie. The British, aware of the conse- 
quences of defeat, laboured with great assiduity to strengthen 
themselves ; and the reinforcements continually arriving at Fort 
George, were evidently destined to follow up the advantages 
which Proctor, in conjunction with the commander on the lake, 
might gain. 

In the meanwhile, the people of the neighbouring statca 
of Kentucky and Ohio were excited in a surprising degree. 
Had it been necessary, they would have risen en masse ; for 



150 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Governor Shelby Character of the Kentuckians. 

almost every man capable of bearing a musket, was ready to 
march. The governor of Ohio had scarce issued his procla- 
mation for volunteers (for the legal obligation to render military- 
service was no longer enforced), when fifteen thousand men, 
completely armed and equipped — a number five times greater 
than was required — presented themselves. The venerable 
governor of Kentucky, Shelby, a revolutionary hero, and the 
Nestor of the war, made it known that he would put himself 
at the head of the injured citizens of that state, and lead them 
to seek revenge for the murder of their relatives and friends : 
but he limited the number of volunteers to four thousand. 
The territory embraced by the state of Kentucky, called by 
the natives " the dark and bloody ground," sixty years ago was 
an uninhabited forest ; and had been, from time immemorial, the 
theatre of sanguinary Indian wars. At this day, it blooms be- 
neath the hand of agriculture ; and is filled with beautiful towns 
and villages — the abodes of peace and opulence. The inha- 
bitants are derived principally from those of Virginia and 
North Carolina. Living in abundance and at their ease, and 
remote from the seats of commerce, they had imbibed less of 
foreign attachments and feelings, than any of our people ; and 
were imbued with a purer enthusiasm for the institutions of 
freedom. To an enlightened manliness of mind, they united a 
romantic cast of character, arising from the independence of 
their situation and the absence of too close an intercourse with 
the sordid world. Possessing not a little of the chivalric in their 
generous and hospitable deportment, and fearing dishonour more 
than danger; they were benevolent and disinterested in the 
extreme. Had the elder brethren of our confederacy acted in 
any respect as did this younger member, the Canadas would 
have been ours. 

The transactions which are now to be related, may justly be 
ranked among the most pleasing to our national pride, of any 
which took place during the war. The campaign opened with 
an affair, which, though comparatively of small consequence, 
was characterized by the most brilliant bravery. This was the 
unparalleled defence of Fort Sandusky, by a youth of twenty-one 
years of age. In August, and before the arrival of the Ohio 
and Kentucky volunteers, which did not take place until the 
following month, threatening movements had been made upon 
all the different forts established by the Americans on the rivers 
which fall into Lake Erie. After the siege of Fort Meigs, the 
British had received considerable reinforcements of regular 
troops, and also of Indians under their great leader Tecumseh. 
It was all-important to reduce these forts before the arrival of the 



HISTORY 01 THE WAR. 151 



Gallant Defence of Fort Sandusky by Major Croghan. 



American volunteers. Major Croghan, then commanding at Up- 
per Sandusky, having received intimations that the enemy were 
about to invest the fort of Lower Sandusky, marched to tliis 
latter place with some additional force. He occupied himself 
with great assiduity in placing it in the best posture of defence ; 
but the only addition of importance, which the time would 
allow him to make, was a ditch six feet deep and nine feet wide, 
outside the stockade of pickets by which the fort was enclosed. 
He had but one six-pounder ; and about one hundred and sixty 
men, consisting of some regulars, and of detachments of the 
Pittsburgh and Petersburgh volunteers : while his slight and 
hastily constructed fortifications afforded but a weak defence 
against artillery. General Harrison, not conceiving it prac- 
ticable to defend the place, ordered young Croghan to retire on 
the approach of the enemy, after destroying the works. By a 
despatch, which was intended to fall into the hands of the ene- 
my, the latter declared his unwillingness to obey, as he was 
able to defend the fort. This reaching the general, he sent for 
Croghan ; and, on receiving satisfactory explanations, fully 
authorised him to make the attempt. 

On the 1st of August, general Proctor, having left a large 
body of Indians under Tecumseh to keep up the appearance 
of a siege of Fort Meigs, arrived at Sandusky with about five 
hundred regulars, seven hundred Indians, and some gun boats. 
After he had made such dispositions of his troops as rendered 
the retreat of the garrison impracticable, he sent a flag by colo- 
nel Elliot and major Chambers, demanding a surrender, accom- 
panied with the usual threats of butchery and massacre if the 
garrison should hold out. Croghan, who found that all his com- 
panions, chiefly striplings like himself, would support him to 
the last, returned a spirited answer : to the efl^ect that, " when 
the fort should be taken, there would be none left to massacre ; 
as it would not be given up while a man was able to fight." ^ 

When the flag returned, a brisk fire was opened from six- 
pounders in the boats and a howitzer, which was kept up during 
the night. In the morning, it was discovered that three sixes 
had been planted, under the cover of the night, within two hun- 
dred and fifty yards of the pickets; which shortly after com- 
menced firing, but with little efl?ect. About four o'clock in the 
afternoon, the enemy having concentrated his fire against the 
northwest angle of the fort, with the intention of making a breach, 
it was immediately strengthened by means of bags of flour and 
sand. At the same time, the six-pounder, the only piece of 
artillery in the fort, was carefully concealed in the bastion which 
covered the point to be assailed, and loaded with slugs and 



152 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Gallant Defence of Fort Sandusky Humane Conduct of the Besieged. 



grape. About five hundred of the enemy now advanced to 
assail the part where it was supposed the pickets had been 
injured : at the same time making several feints, to draw the 
attention of the besieged from the real point of attack. Their 
force being thus disposed, a column of three hundred and fifty- 
men, who were so enveloped in smoke as not to be seen until 
they approached within twenty paces of the lines, advanced 
rapidly to the assault. A fire of musketry from the fort, 
threw them for a moment into confusion ; but they were quickly 
Tallied by colonel Short their commander, who sprung over the 
j)uter works into the ditch, and commanded his men to follow, 

crying out, " Give the d d Yankees no quarter !" Scarcely 

had these words escaped his lips, when the six-pounder opened 
upon them a most destructive fire ; killing their barbarous leader 
and twenty others, and wounding as many more. A volley of 
musketry was, at the same time, fired upon those who had not 
descended. The officer who succeeded Short, exasperated at 
being thus treated by a few boys, formed the broken column 
anew, and again rushed to the ditch. The six-pounder was a 
second tifne played on them with the same success as before ; 
and the small arms were discharged so rapidly, that they were 
again thrown into confusion, and, in spite of the exertions of 
their officers, fled to an adjoining wood, whither they were soon 
followed by the Indians. Shortly afterwards, the assailants 
abandoned the attack. Panic-struck, they retreated to their 
boats, in sullen silence ; scarcely daring to cast their eyes to- 
wards the fatal spot, where they had been so signally chas- 
tised by a force scarce a tenth of theirs in number. 

If this gallant defence deserved the applause of the brave, the 
subsequent conduct of the besieged was well entitled to the 
praise of every friend of humanity. Forgetting in a moment 
that they had been assailed by merciless foes, who sought 
to massacre them without regarding the laws of honourable 
war, the little band felt only the desire of relieving the wounded 
men who had been left; behind by the enemy. During the 
night, provisions and buckets of water were handed over the 
pickets ; and, by an opening which was made, many of the 
sufferers were taken in and immediately supplied with surgical 
aid : and this, although a firing was still kept up with small arms 
by the enemy for a part of the time. 

The loss of the garrison amounted to one killed and seven 
wounded. That of the enemy could not have been less than 
one hundred and fifty : upwards of fifty were found in and about 
the ditch. It was discovered next morning, that the enemy 
had hastily retreated ; leaving a boat, a considerable quantity of 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 153 

Tecumseh raises the Siege of Fort Meigs .... Naval Preparations on Lake Erie. 

military stores, and upwards of seventy stand of arms. The 
Americans were engaged, during the day, in burying the dead 
with the honours of war, and providing for the wounded. 

This exploit called forth the admiration of all parties through- 
out the United States. Major Croghan, together with his com- 
panions, captain Hunter, lieutenants Johnson and Baylor, and 
ensigns Shipp and Duncan (afterwards governor of Illinois) 
of the Seventeenth regiment ; Anthony and Anderson, of the 
Twenty-fourth ; and Meeks, of the Seventh ; and the other 
officers and volunteers, were highly complimented by general 
Harrison. They afterwards received the thanks of congress. 
Major Croghan was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, 
and was presented with an elegant sword by the ladies of Chil- 
licothe. See Engraving, page 108 ante. 

Soon after this affair, Tecumseh, having raised the siege of 
Fort Meigs, followed Proctor to Detroit ; and all hope was given 
up by the enemy of reducing the American forts, until they 
could gain the ascendancy on the lake. 

The utmost exertions had been made, in the meanwhile, by 
captain Perry, to complete the naval armament on Lake Erie. 
By the 2d of August, the fleet was equipped ; but some time was 
lost in getting several of the vessels over the bar at the mouth of 
the harbour of Erie. On the 4th, he sailed in quest of the enemy ; 
but not meeting him, he returned on the 8th. After receiving 
a reinforcement of sailors brought by captain Elliot, he again 
sailed on the 12th, and on the 15th anchored in the bay of San- 
dusky. Here he took in about twenty volunteer marines, and 
again went in search of the enemy ; and after cruising off* Mai- 
den, retired to Put-in-Bay, a distance of thirty miles. His fleet 
consisted of the brig Lawrence, his flag vessel, of twenty guns ; 
the Niagara, captain Elliot, of twenty ; the Caledonian, lieute- 
nant Turner, of three ; the schooner Ariel, of four ; the Scorpion, 
of two ; the Somers, of two guns and two swivels ; the 
sloop Trippe, and schooners Tigress and Porcupine, of one 
gun each : amounting in all to nine vessels, fifty-four guns and 
two swivels. On the morning of the 10th of September, the 
enemy was discovered bearing down upon the American squa- 
dron ; which immediately got under weigh, and stood out to 
meet him. The Americans had three vessels more than the 
British ; but this advantage was fully counterbalanced by the 
size, and the number of guns, of those of the enemy. The fleet 
of the latter consisted of the Detroit, commodore Barclay, of 
nineteen guns and two howitzers ; the Queen Charlotte, captain 
Finnis, of seventeen guns ; the schooner Lady Prevost, lieute- 
nant Buchan, of thirteen guns and two howitzers ; the brig 



154 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Battle of Lake Erie Gallant Behaviour of Commodore Perry. 

Hunter, of ten guns ; the sloop Little Belt, of three guns ; and 
the schooner Chippewa, of one gun and two swivels : in all, 
six vessels, sixty-three guns, four howitzers and two swivels. 

When the Americans stood out, the British fleet had the 
weather gage ; but the wind soon atler changed, and brought 
the American fleet to windward. The line of battle was form- 
ed at eleven ; and at fifteen minutes before twelve, the enemy's 
flag ship, and the Queen Charlotte, opened their fire upon the 
Lawrence ; which she sustained for ten minutes, before she was 
near enough for her guns, which were carronades, to return it. 
She continued to bear up, making signals for the other vessels to 
hasten to her support ; and at five minutes before twelve, brought 
her guns to bear upon the enemy. Unfortunately, the wind 
being Ught, the smaller vessels of the squadron could not come 
up to her assistance ; and she was compelled to contend, for 
two hours, \^ith two ships each nearly equal to her in force. 
The contest was, notwithstanding, maintained by her with un- 
shaken courage, and with a coolness which deserves the high- 
est admiration. By this time the Lawrence had become entirely 
unmanageable. Every gun in the brig being dismounted ; and 
with the exception of four or five, her whole crew either killed 
or wounded ; Perry determined to leave her. With a presence 
of mind which drew forth the praise of the gallant officer to 
whom he was opposed, he sprung into his boat, and heroically 
waving his sword, passed unhurt to the Niagara, carrying his 
flag with him. At the moment he reached the Niagara, the flag 
of the Lawrence came down. She was utterly unable to make 
further resistance ; and it would have been a wanton waste of the 
remaining lives, to continue the contest. Captain Elliot now- 
left the Niagara, with the view of bringing up the rest of the 
fleet ; while Perry again bore down among t}ie enemy in a ship 
which had as yet taken no share in the action As he passed 
ahead of the Detroit, Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost, he 
poured into each a broadside from his starboard side ; and from 
his larboard fired into the Chippewa and Little Belt. To one of 
the vessels — the Lady Prevost, which he approached within 
half pistol shot, the fire was so destructive, that her men 
were compelled to run below. At this moment the wind fresh- 
ening, the Caledonia came up, and opened her fire ; and several 
others of the squadron were enabled soon after to do the same. 
For a time, this novel and important combat raged with inde- 
scribable violence and fury. The result of a campaign, the 
command of a sea, the glory and renown of two rival nations 
matched for the first time in squadron, were at issue. The 
contest was not long doubtful. The Queen Charlotte, having 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 157 

Capture of the Enemy's Squadron . . " We have met the Enemy, and they are ours.* 

lost her captain and all her principal officers, by some mis- 
chance ran foul of the Detroit. By this accident the greater part 
of their guns were rendered useless ; and the two ships were 
now in turn compelled to sustain an incessant fire from the 
Niagara, and the other vessels of the American squadron. The 
flag of captain Barclay soon struck ; and the Queen Charlotte, 
the Lady Prevost, the Hunter and the Chippewa surrendered 
in immediate succession : the Little Belt attempted to escape, 
but was pursued by two gun-boats and captured. 

Thus, after a contest of three hours, was a naval victory 
achieved, in which every vessel of the enemy was captured. 
If any thing could enhance its brilliancy, it was the modest 
manner in which it was announced by the incomparable Perry : 
We have met the Enemy, and they are ours, were his 
words. Great Britain had already been defeated in single com- 
bat ; she was now beaten in squadron. The carnage in this 
affair was very great in proportion to the numbers engaged. 
The Americans had twenty-seven killed, and ninety-six 
wounded : among the former, were lieutenant Brooks of the 
marines, and midshipman Laub ; among the latter, lieutenant 
Yarnall, sailing-master Taylor, purser Hamilton and midship- 
men Claxton and Svvartwout. The loss of the British was 
about two hundred in killed and wounded ; many of whom 
were officers : and the prisoners, amounting to six hundred, 
exceeded the whole number of the Americans. Commodore 
Barclay, a gallant sailor, one of whose arms had been shot off 
at the battle of Trafalgar, was severely wounded in the hip, 
and lost the use of his remaining arm. 

The news of this event was received with unbounded demon- 
strations of joy. All party feelings were for a moment forgot- 
ten ; and the glorious occurrence was celebrated by illuminations 
and festivals, from one end of the continent to the other. 

It is highly gratifying to know, that the treatment of the 
British prisoners was such, as to call forth their thanks. Cap- 
tain Barclay declared, that " the conduct of commodore Perry 
towards the captive officers and men, was sufficient, of itself, 
to immortalize him." 

The Americans having thus obtained possession of the lake, 
active preparations were immediately made for expelling 
Proctor from Maiden and for the recovery of Detroit. Gene- 
ral Harrison now called on governor Meigs for a portion of the 
Ohio militia, spoken of in a former page ; the whole of which 
had not as yet been disbanded. On the 17th of September, four 
thousand volunteers, the flower of Kentucky, with the venerable 
governor of that state, Isaac Shelby, the hero of King's Moun- 
o 



158 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Northwestern Army reinforced .... Capture of Maiden .... Skirmish at Chatham. 

tain, at their head, arrived at the camp. Thus reinforced, 
general Harrison determined to embark the infantry on board 
the fleet for Maiden ; and directed colonel R. M. Johnson to 
proceed with his mounted regiment of Kentuckians to Detroit 
by land. The latter accordingly marched ; but on approaching 
the river Raisin, they halted some time to contemplate the tragic 
spot. The feelings which they experienced on this occasion 
cannot be described ; for many of them had lost friends and 
relations here. The mourners collected the still unburied bones 
of the victims, and consigned them to one common grave, with 
the most affecting demonstrations of grief. 

On the 27th, the troops were received on board, and on the 
same day reached a point below Maiden. The British general 
had in the meanwhile destroyed the fort and public stores, and 
had retreated along the Thames, towards the Moravian villages, 
together with Tecumseh's Indians. When the American army 
arrived at Maiden, a number of females came out to implore the 
protection of their general. This was unnecessary ; for gen- 
eral Harrison had given orders that even Proctor, if taken, 
should not be hurt ; and governor Shelby had issued an address 
to the Kentucky volunteers, in which he said, " while the 
army remains in this country, it is expected that the inhabit- 
ants will be treated with justice and humanity, and their pro- 
perty secured from unnecessary and wanton injury." 

On the 29th, the army reached Detroit, where it was joined 
on the following day by colonel Johnson's regiment. It was 
now resolved by Harrison and Shelby, to proceed immediately 
in pursuit of Proctor. On the 2d of October, they marched, with 
about three thousand five hundred men, selected for the purpose, 
consisting chiefly of colonel Ball's dragoons, colonel Johnson's 
regiment, and other detachments of governor Shelby's volun- 
teers. The heroic Perry and general Cass accompanied general 
Harrison as volunteer aids. They moved with such rapidity, 
that on the first day they travelled the distance of twenty -six 
miles. The next day they captured a lieutenant of dragoons 
and eleven privates, from whom they learned that Proctor had 
no certain knowledge of their approach. On the 4th, having 
reached Chatham, seventeen miles above Lake St. Clair, they 
were detained some time by a deep creek, one of the branches 
of the river Thames, the bridge over which had been partly 
destroyed by the retreating enemy. While the bridge was 
being repaired, some Indians commenced an attack from the 
opposite bank ; but were soon dispersed by colonel Johnson, and 
the artillery of colonel Wood. Here, the Americans found two 
thousand stand of arms and a quantity of clothing; and, crossing 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 159 

Battle of the Thames. 

the creek, pursued the enemy four miles up the Thames, took 
several pieces of cannon, and obliged them to destroy three 
vessels containing public stores. On the 5th, the pursuit was 
renewed ; when, after capturing provisions and ammunition to a 
considerable amount, they reached the place where the enemy 
had encamped the night before. Colonel Wood was now sent 
forward by the commander-in-chief, to reconnoitre the British and 
Indian forces ; and he very soon returned with information, that 
they had made a stand a few miles distant, and were ready for 
action. General Proctor had drawn up his regular forces, across 
a narrow strip of land covered with beach trees, flanked on one 
side by a swamp and on the other by the river ; their left rest- 
ing on the river supported by the larger portion of their artil- 
lery, and their right on the swamp. Beyond the swamp, and 
between it and another morass still further to the right, were 
the Indians under Tecumseh. This position was skilfully 
chosen by Proctor, with regard to locality, and the character 
of his troops ; but he committed an irreparable oversight in 
neglecting to fortify his front by a ditch or abatis, and in draw- 
ing up his troops " in open order, that is, with intervals of 
three or four feet between the files"^a mode of array which 
could not resist a charge of cavalry. His whole force consisted 
of about eii?ht hundred regular soldiers and two thousand 
Indians. 

The American troops, amounting to something more than 
three thousand men, were now disposed in order of battle. 
General Trotter's brigade constituted the front line ; general 
King's brigade formed a second line, in the rear of general 
Trotter ; and Chiles's brigade was kept as a corps of reserve. 
These three brigades were under the command of major general 
Henry. The whole of general Desha's division, consisting of 
two brigades, was formed en poierice an the left of Trotter's 
brigade. Each brigade averaged five hundred men. The regular 
troops, amounting to one hundred and twenty men, were formed 
in columns, and occupied a narrow space between the road and 
the river, for the purpose of seizing the enemy's artillery, should 
opportunity offer. General Harrison had at first ordered colonel 
Johnson's mounted men to form in two lines, opposite to the 
Indians ; but he soon observed that the underwood here was too 
close for cavalry to act with any effect. Aware of the egregious 
error committed by Proctor as above mentioned, and well 
knowing the dexterity of backwoodsmen in riding, and in the 
use of the rifle, in forest ground, he immediately determined 
that one battalion of the mounted regiment should charge on 
the British regulars. The other, under the immediate command 



160 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Battle of the Thames Colonel Johnson wounded Death of Tecumseh. 



of colonel Johnson, was left to confront the Indians. The 
requisite arrangements having been made, the army had moved 
forward but a short distance, when the enemy fired. This 
was the signal for our cavalry to charge ; and although the 
men and horses in the front of the column at first recoiled, the} 
soon recovered themselves, and the whole body dashed througl. 
the enemy with irresistible force. Instantly forming in the rear 
of the British, they poured on them a destructive fire, and were 
about to make a second charge ; when the British officers, find- 
ing it impossible, from the nature of the ground and the panic 
which prevailed, to form their broken ranks, immediately sur- 
rendered. 

On the left, the battle was begun by Tecumseh with great 
fury. The galling fire of the Indians did not check the advance 
of the American columns ; but the charge was not successful, 
from the miry character of the soil and the number and close- 
ness of the thickets which covered it. In these circumstances, 
colonel Johnson ordered his men to dismount, and leading them 
up a second time, succeeded, after a desperate contest, in break- 
ing through the line of the Indians and gaining their rear. 
Notwithstanding this, and that the colonel now directed his 
men to fight them in their own mode, the Indians were unwil- 
ling to yield the day ; and quickly collecting their principal 
strength on the right, attempted to penetrate the line of infantry 
commanded by general Desha. At first they made an impres- 
sion on it ; but they were soon repulsed by the aid of a regi- 
ment of Kentucky volunteers led on by the aged Shelby, who 
had been posted at the angle formed by the front line and 
Desha's division. The combat now raged with increasing fury , 
the Indians, to the numlDcr of twelve or fiflcen hundred, seeming 
determined to maintain their ground to the last. The terrible 
voice of Tecumseh could be distinctly heard, encouraging his 
warriors ; and although beset on every side except that of the 
morass, they fought with more determined courage than they 
had ever before exhibited. An incident, however, now occur- 
red which eventually decided the contest. The gallant colonel 
Johnson having rushed towards the spot where the Indians, 
clustering around their undaunted chief, appeared resolved to 
perish by his side ; his uniform, and the white horse which he 
rode, rendered him a conspicuous object. In a moment his 
holsters, dress and accoutrements were pierced with a hundred 
bullets ; and he fell to the ground severely wounded. Tecum- 
seh, meanwhile, was killed in the melee. After the rescue and 
removal of the wounded colonel, the command devolved on 
major Thompson. The Indians maintained the fight for more 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 163 

Character of Tecumseh. 

than an hour ; but no longer hearing the voice of their great 
captain, they at last gave way on all sides. Near the spot 
where this struggle took place, thirty Indians and six whites 
were found dead. 

Thus fell Tecumseh, one of the most celebrated warriors 
that ever raised the tomahawk against us ; and with him 
faded the last hope of our Indian enemies. This untutored man 
was the determined foe of civilization, and had for years been 
labouring to unite all the Indian tribes in resisting the progress 
of our settlements to the westward. Had such a man opposed 
the European colonists on their first arrival, this .continent 
might still have been a wilderness. To those who prefer a 
savage, uncultivated waste, inhabited by wolves and panthers, 
and by men more savage still, to the busy city ; to the peace- 
ful hamlet and cottage ; to Christianity, science, and the com- 
forts of civilization ; to such, it may be a source of regret that 
Tecumseh came too late. But to all others, it must be a just 
cause of felicitation, that he was the champion of barbarism at a 
period when he could only draw down destruction on his own 
head. Tecumseh fell respected by his enemies, as a great and 
magnanimous chief. Although he seldom took prisoners in 
battle, he was merciful to those who had been taken by others ; 
and, at the defeat of Dudley, actually put to death a chief whom 
he found engaged in the work of massacre. He had been in 
almost every engagement with the whites since Harmer's 
defeat in 1791, although at his death he scarcely exceeded 
forty years of age. Tecumseh had received the stamp of 
greatness from the hand of nature ; and had his lot been cast 
in a different state of society, he would have shone as one of 
the most distinguished of men. He was endowed with a pow- 
erful mind, and with the soul of a hero. There was an uncom- 
mon dignity in his countenance and manners : by the former he 
could easily be discovered, even after death, among the rest of 
the slain, for he wore no insignia of distinction. When girded 
with a silk sash, and told by general Proctor that he was 
made a brigadier general in the British service for his conduct 
at Brownstown and Magagua, he refused the title. Born with- 
out title to command, such was his native greatness, that every 
tribe yielded submission to him at once, and no one ever disputed 
his precedence. Subtle and fierce in war, he was possessed 
of uncommon eloquence. Invective was its chief merit, as we 
had frequent occasion to experience. He gave a remarkable 
instance of its power in the reproaches which he applied to 
general Proctor, in a speech delivered a few days before his 
death ; a copy of which was found among the papers of the Bri- 




164 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Escape of Proctor Public Testimonials of Respect to Harrison. 

tish officers. His form was uncommonly elegant. His stature 
was about six feet, and his limbs were perfectly proportioned. 

In this engagement, the British loss was, nineteen regulars 
killed, fifty wounded, and about six hundred taken prisoners. 
The Indians left one hundred and twenty on the field. The 
American loss, in killed and wounded, amounted to upwards of 
fifty ; seventeen of the slain were Kentuckians, and among 
them was colonel Whitely, a soldier of the revolution, who 
served on this occasion as a private. He by some was sup- 
posed to have killed Tecumseh ; while others affirmed that 
colonel Johnson was the person. Several pieces of brass can- 
non, the trophies of our revolution, and which had been sur- 
rendered by Hull at Detroit, were once more restored to our 
country. General Proctor had basely deserted his troops as 
soon as the charge was made ; and though hotly pursued, was 
enabled, by means of swift horses and his knowledge of the 
country, to escape down the Thames. His carriage, with his 
private papers, however, was taken. 

By this splendid achievement, general Harrison rescued the 
whole northwestern frontier from the depredations of the 
savages and the horrors of war. The national gratitude burst 
out in one loud voice of applause. He was complimented by 
congress, and by various public bodies; and a prominent 
public man asserted, on the floor of the national house of repre- 
sentatives, that his victory " was such as would have secured 
to a Roman general, in the best days of the republic, the 
honours of a triumph." We regret to be compelled to add, 
that this distinguished officer not long afterwards retired from 
the army, in consequence of being placed in an inferior com- 
mand. His services were thus lost to the country for the re- 
mainder of the war. For the act which induced general Har- 
rison to take this step, the administration, and particularly the 
secretary of war, general Armstrong, were much and justly 
blamed. 

The time had now come, which would prove whether the 
stigma cast upon the chivalrous people of Kentucky by Proctor, 
in order to hide his own conduct, was founded in truth. It was 
now to be seen whether, to use the words of Proctor, they were 
a " ferocious and mortal foe, using the same mode of warfare 
with the allies of Britain." The recollection of the cruelties 
at the river Raisin might have justified revenge ; and the in- 
struments of those deeds were now at their disposal : for, be- 
reft of hope by this signal defeat and the loss of their great 
leader, the savages had sued for peace ; and as an earnest of 
their sincerity, offered to raise their tomahawks on the side of 




HISTORY OF THE WAR. 165 

Generous Treatment of the Prisoners Interesting Correspondence. 

the United States, and to execute on the British captives the 
same atrocities they had perpetrated on the Americans. 

But the Kentuckians, as might have been expected, forbore 
even a word or a look of reproach to their prisoners. The lat- 
ter were distributed in small parties in the interior towns ; and 
although extremely insulting in their deportment, were not only 
treated wilii humanity, but in many places actually fed with 
dainties by the humane inhabitants. This treatment was car- 
ried to an extreme which might properly have been termed 
foolish, had it not been a noble retaliation for what our coun- 
trymen were at that moment enduring in the British dungeons 
on the land, and in their floating prisons on the sea. 

Nor was the treatment of the conquered savages less gene- 
rous. Peace was granted to them, and during the succeeding 
winter they were actually supported at the public expense. 
They were obligated to raise the tomahawk against their former 
friends, but were forbidden to assail the defenceless and the non- 
combatant. 

Security having thus been restored to our frontier, the greater 
part of the volunteers were permitted to return home ; and Har- 
rison, after stationing general Cass at Detroit with about one 
thousand men, on the 23d of October proceeded, according to 
his instructions, with the remainder of his force, to join the 
Army of the Centre at Buffalo. Shortly before his departure 
an interesting correspondence took place between him and gene- 
ral Vincent, growing out of a request by the latter, that the Bri- 
tish prisoners in his possession might be treated with humanity. 
General Harrison, after assuring him that such a request was 
unnecessary, referred him to the prisoners themselves for in- 
formation on this score. He then took occasion to go into a 
minute detail of the violations of the laws of civilized warfare 
committed by the British and Indians. He painted the scenes 
of the river Raisin, the Miami, and other places, the atrocity of 
which general Proctor had attempted to palliate by the utterance 
of a slander on the Western people ; and at the same time stated, 
that in no single instance had the British had occasion to com- 
plain of a deviation from civilized warfare on our part. For the 
truth of these facts, he appealed to the personal knowledge of 
general Vincent. General Harrison said, that, in his treat- 
ment of British prisoners, he acted purely from a sense of hu- 
manity, and not on the principle of reciprocity ; and as there 
were still a number of Indians in the employment of the British, 
he begged to be informed explicitly, whether these allies would 
be kept in restraint for the future, or whether general Vincent 
would still permit them to practise their usual cruelties. " Use, 



1 66 BR ACKENRIDGE'S 

Preparations for invading Canada. 

I pray you," said he, " your authority and influence to 
stop the dreadful effusion of innocent blood which proceeds 
from the employment of those savage monsters, whose aid, as 
must now be discovered, is so little to be depended on when 
most wanted, and which can have so trifling an effect on the 
issue of the war." 

The reply of general Vincent, like that of sir Sydney Beck 
with, was vague and evasive. He expressed himself perfectly 
satisfied with the assurances as to the treatment of the prisoners, 
but declined saying any thing on the other topics ; it was beyond 
his power to give an explicit answer ; but he pledged his honour, 
that, to the utmost of his power, he would join with general 
Harrison in alleviating the calamities of the war. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Preparations for invading Canada— General Armstrong appointed Secretary of War 
—General Wilkinson appointed Commander-in-cliief of tlie American Forces— Gene- 
ral Hampton takes command of the Army of the North at Plattsburg— Rendezvous 
of the American Forces at Grenadier Island— General Wilkinson descends the St. 
Lawrence— British harass the American Army— Battle of Chrystler's Field— General 
Hampton descends the Chateaugay River— Is attacked by the British— He retreats— 
His Inability or Unwillingness toco-operate with General Wilkinson— Both Ameri- 
can Armies go into Winter Quarters- Failure of the Expedition against Montreal- 
Cruise of Commodore Chauncey on Lake Ontario— He captures five armed British 
Schooners— Burning of Newark by the Americans— British Retaliation— Fort Niaga- 
ra surprised— Destruction of Lewistown, Buffalo, and other places. 

The glorious result of the operations of the Northwestern 
army, and the splendid victory on the lake, opened the way to 
a more effectual invasion of Canada. We were now in the 
situation in which we should have been at the commencement 
of the war, had Hull's expedition proved successful ; with this 
difference, however : that the British had been enabled to pro- 
vide for defence, by collecting troops, disciplining militia, 
and fortifying the borders of the St. Lawrence ; while, on the 
other hand, the American force on the frontier was more formi- 
dable than it had been at any time previously during the war, 
and was commanded by officers whose merits had been tried 
in actual service — in addition to which the greater part of the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 167 



General Armstrong, Secretary of War . . General Wilkinson, Commander-in-chief. 

neighbouring Indians had declared against the British. The 
public mind was now so elated by the brilliant victories to the 
westward, that it was thought the tide of fortune had at last 
turned in our favour, and confidently expected that the adminis- 
tration would attempt the conquest of Canada in good earnest. 

At the head of the war department was a man of energy 
and talents, who had resided a considerable period in Europe , 
and, from the known bias of his mind to military affairs, it 
was presumed that he had availed himself to the utmost of the 
opportunities there within his reach of increasing his military 
knowledge. Much was expected from him ; and it was soon 
acknowledged that some improvements had been introduced 
into his department. General Armstrong, knowing the san- 
guine anticipations which prevailed through the country, pro- 
ceeded to the northern frontier, with a plan of operations 
digested in the cabinet, which he intended to be carried into 
efJect under his own eye. The plan, as afterwards developed, 
was in itself judicious; but there was not perhaps, in its exe- 
cution, sufficient allowance for a change of circumstances. Al- 
though the season was far advanced, much might yet be 
done : but, to satisfy the public expectations, to the extent to 
which the successes of Harrison had raised them, was scarcely 
possible. Little short of the complete conquest of Canada 
would suffice ; while but vague ideas of the nature of the en- 
terprise, and of the difficulties to be encountered, prevailed 
through the great body of the nation. The people in this 
country, like other sovereigns, regarding only the success or 
failure of their agents, seldom weigh the peculiar circumstances 
under which they may have acted. To the desire of doing 
too much, may perhaps be attributed the misfortunes experi- 
enced in a campaign, the chief incidents of which are now 
about to be related. 

On the resignation of general Dearborne, general Wilkinson, 
then in the southern section of the union, was appointed to 
succeed him as commander-in-chief of the American forces. 
Public opinion was much divided, as to some points in the pre- 
vious character and conduct of this officer ; but it was gene- 
rally admitted, that he possessed a greater share of military 
science than any one in the army. The general, on taking the 
command, issued an order which gave universal satisfaction ; 
and it was expected that, for the sake of firmly establishing his 
reputation, he would endeavour to render some signal service to 
his country. The force under his command on the Niagara, 
amounted to eight thousand regulars, besides those under 
Harrison, which were expected to arrive in the course of the 



168 BRACKEN RIDGE'S 

General Hampton American Forces rendezvous at Grenadier Island. 

month of October. General Wade Hampton, a distinguished 
revolutionary officer, also called from the south, was appointed 
to the command of the Army of the North, then encamjied 
at Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain, and amounting to about four 
thousand men. As the season for military operations was 
rapidly drawing to a close, it was important that no time 
should be lost, and measures were immediately taken for car- 
rying into effect the projected invasion. The outline of the 
plan which had been adopted, was : to descend the St. Law- 
rence, passing the British posts without attempting their cap- 
ture ; to form a junction with general Hampton at some desig- 
nated point on the river ; and then with the united forces to 
proceed to the Island of Montreal. After which, to use the 
language of General Wilkinson, " their artillery, bayonets, and 
swords, must secure them a triumph, or provide for them honour- 
able graves." It is said that a difference of opinion existed 
between the general-in-chief and the secretary at war, on this 
subject : the former not considering it prudent to leave Kings- 
ton and other British garrisons in the rear; and the latter 
seeming to think, that as there was no doubt of taking Mon- 
treal, all the posts on the river and lakes above that place 
must fall of course. The correctness of this conclusion could 
not be denied : but as there is a degree of uncertainty in every 
human undertaking, it is unwise to make no allowance for 
some possible failure ; except, indeed, where the party, like 
Csesar, resolves to be great or dead. 

The army, which had been distributed in different corps, 
and statjoned at various points, was now to be concentrated at 
some place convenient for its embarkation. For this purpose, 
Grenadier Island, which lies between Sackett's Harbour and 
Kingston, was selected, on account of its contiguity to the St. 
Lawrence. On the 2d of October, general Wilkinson left 
Fort George, with the principal body of the troops, and soon 
after reached the island. Here he occupied himself inces- 
santly in making preparation for the prosecution of his enter- 
prise. He several times visited Sackett's Harbour, the point 
at which the troops first arrived, and whence, after receiving the 
necessary supplies, they proceeded to the place of rendez- 
vous. Colonel Scott, whom he had left in command of Fort 
George, was ordered to embark, with his regiment of artil- 
lery, and colonel Randolph's infantry, and proceed to the 
island ; while colonel Dennis was left in charge of Sackett's 
Harbour. The general having provided boats to transport the 
artillery through the St. Lawrence, proceeded to put his troops in 
motion. By the 23d, the forces thus collected exceeded seven 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 169 

General Wilkinson descends the St. Lawrence. 

thousand men, and were composed of colonel Porter's light 
artillery, a few companies of colonel Scott's, and the whole of 
colonel Macomb's regiment of artillery, twelve regiments of 
infantry, and Forsythe's rifle corps. In consequence of the high 
winds on the lake, which prevailed for several days, it was not 
until the 25th that the army could get under weigh ; and although 
the general was suffering from a disorder which rendered his 
health very precarious, his anxiety induced him to superintend 
the embarkation in person. 

A few days before, intelligence had been received from colo- 
nel Scott, that the enemy, in consequence of the departure of 
the American army from Fort George, had also abandoned that 
neighbourhood, and was occupied in concentrating his forces at 
Kingston, in the belief that the latter place was the object of 
attack. General Wilkinson, to favour this idea, fixed on French 
Creek, which lay opposite the most proper point of debarka- 
tion on the Canada side, as the place of rendezvous for the 
troops after their entrance into the St. Lawrence. Brigadier 
general Brown, of the regular service of the United States, 
was ordered forward to take the command of the advance of the 
army at this place. On the 1st of November, a British squa- 
dron made its appearance near French Creek, with a large body 
of infantry, and attacked the American detachments there ; but 
a battery of three eighteen-pounders, skilfully managed by cap- 
tains M'Pherson and Fanning, soon forced them to retire. 
The attack was renewed the next morning, but with no bet- 
ter success ; and as the other corps of the army were now daily 
arriving, the enemy thought proper to move off. On the 6th, 
the army was embarked on the river, and in the evening land- 
ed a few miles above the British Fort Prescott. After recon- 
noitering the passage at this place, and finding that the fort 
commanded the river, general Wilkinson directed the powder 
and fixed ammunition to be transported by land to a safe point 
below. The troops were also debarked, and marched to the same 
point ; and it was determined to take advantage of the night to 
pass with the flotilla, on board of which a sufficient number of 
men to navigate it had been left. Availing himself of a heavy 
fog which came on in the evening, the commander-in-chief en- 
deavoured to pass the fort unobserved ; but the weather clearing 
up, and the moon shining, he was discovered and fired upon 
by the enemy. General Brown, who was in the rear with 
the flotilla, thought it prudent to halt, until the night should 
grow darker. On the setting of the moon, he proceeded down 
the river, and being again discovered, was exposed to a se- 
vere cannonade of three hours. During all this time not one 
p 



170 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Descent of the St. Lawrence British harass the American Army. 

out of three hundred boats suffered the slightest injury ; and 
before ten o'clock of the next day, they had all safely arrived 
at the place of destination. A messenger was now despatched 
to general Hampton, informing him of the movements of the 
army, and requiring his co-operation. 

The enemy, having by this time penetrated the design of 
the Americans, endeavoured, assiduously, to counteract it. The 
descent of our troops was now found to be impeded by consider- 
able bodies of the British, stationed at narrow parts of the river, 
whence they could annoy our boats within musket shot ; and 
the embarrassment thus occasioned was increased by the illness 
of the commander-in-chief, which had augmented in the most 
alarming degree. The army was also delayed for half a day 
in extricating two schooners loaded with provisions, which had 
been driven into a part of the river near Ogdensburg, by the ene- 
my's fire. On the 7th, in the morning, a corps of twelve hun- 
dred men, under colonel Macomb, was despatched to remove 
the obstructions to the descent of the army ; and at three 
o'clock he was followed by the main body. On passing the 
first rapids of the St. Lawrence, the barge of the commander-in- 
chief was assailed by two pieces of artillery, which had not 
been perceived by colonel Macomb in his march. No injury 
was done except to the rigging : and the attention of the enemy 
was soon diverted by lieutenant-colonel Eustis, who returned 
their fire from some light barges ; while major Forsythe, land- 
in<7 some of his riflemen, attacked them unexpectedly, and com- 
pelled them to retreat. The flotilla came-to about six miles 
below Hamilton ; where the general received intelligence that 
colonel Macomb had routed the enemy at a block-house two 
miles below, and that the dragoons attached to the first divi- 
sion of the enemy had been collected at a place called the 
White House, at a contraction of the river. On the arrival of 
the flotilla at this place on the 8th, general Brown was ordered 
to go forward with his brigade, to reinforce colonel Macomb 
and to take command of the advance ; while the commander- 
in-chief directed the transportation of the dragoons across the 
St. Lawrence. This latter business was effected during the 
night. 

The British troops which had been concentrated at Kingston, 
being released from the apprehension of an attack on that place, 
immediately followed the American army. On the 9th, they had 
so far gained upon it, that a skirmish was brought on between 
the American riflemen, and a party of militia and Indians. To 
be thus harassed by a large body of troops hanging on the rear of 
an army, is a situation which military men have always carefully 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 171 



Descent of the St. Lawrence British harass the American Army. 



avoided ; and this, in the present case, was the necessary con- 
sequence of withdrawing the troops from above which might 
have kept the enemy in check. Had two thousand men been 
stationed in the vicinity of Kingston to threaten it, the enemy 
would have been compelled to retain a large force at that 
place ; by which means the main body of our army might have 
passed on in greater safety. In the course of the day, the 
cavalry, and four pieces of artillery under captain M'Pher- 
son, were ordered to clear the coast below as far as the head 
of the Longue Saiit, a rapid eight miles long; and in the even- 
ing the army arrived at a place called the Yellow House, which 
stands near the Saut. As the passage here would be attended 
with considerable difficulty, from the rapidity "and length of 
the current, it was deemed prudent to wait until the next day ; 
and in the meanwhile it became necessary to use the utmost 
vigilance. 

On the morning of the 10th, general Brown, with the troops 
under his command, excepting two pieces of artillery and the 
second regiment of dragoons, was ordered to continue his march 
in advance of the army. A regard for the safety of the men 
had induced the commander-in-chief to retain as few of them 
in the boats as possible, during the long and dangerous passage 
of the rapid, on account of the fire to which they would be sub- 
ject from the batteries which the enemy had in all probability 
established along it. The second regiment of dragoons, and 
ail the men of the other brigades, with the exception of a num- 
ber sufficient to navigate the boats, were placed under the com- 
mand of general Boyd, and ordered to prevent the enemy, who 
were still hanging on the rear, from making any advantageous 
attack. General Brown now commenced his march at the 
head of his troops, consisting principally of colonel Macomb's 
artillery, some companies of colonel Scott's regiment, part of 
the light artillery, the riflemen, and the Sixth, Fifteenth, and 
Twenty-second regiments. It was not long before he found 
himself engaged with a strong party at a block-house near the 
Saut, which, after a contest of a few minutes, was repulsed by 
the riflemen under major Forsythe. In this short engagement, 
the latter was severely wounded. About the same time some 
of the enemy's galleys approached the flotilla, then lying at the 
shore, and commenced a fire upon it, by which a number of 
the boats were injured ; two eighteen-pounders, however being 
hastily placed on the land, the fire from them soon compelled 
the assailants to retire. The day being now too far spent to^ 
attempt the passage of the Saut, it was resolved to postpone it 
until the following morning. 



il2 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Descent of the St. Lawrence Battle of Chrystler's Field, 

At ten o'clock on the 11th, at the moment that the flotilla was 
about to proceed, and when at the same time the division under 
general Boyd, consisting of his own and the brigades of generals 
Covington and Swartwout, was drawn up in marching order, 
an alarm was given that the enemy were approaching in co- 
lumn. The commander-in-chief and general Lewis being both 
too much indisposed to take the command, general Boyd was 
ordered to face about and attack the advancing foe. The 
enemy's galleys were at the same time coming down, for the 
purpose of assailing the rear of the American flotilla. General 
Boyd now led on his detachment formed in three columns, and 
ordered a part of general Swartwout's brigade to move forward 
and bring the enemy into action. Colonel Ripley, accordingly, 
at the head of the Twenty-first regiment, passed the wood which 
skirts the open ground called Chrystler's Field, and drove in 
several of the enemy's parties. On entering the field he met 
the advance of the British, consisting of the Forty-ninth and the 
Glengary regiments ; and immediately ordered a charge. This 
was executed with such surprising firmness, that these two re- 
giments, nearly double his in number, retired precipitately ; and 
on making a stand, were a second time driven before the bayo- 
net, and compelled to pass over the ravines and fences by which 
the field was intersected, until they fell on their main body. 
Genei'al Covington had, before this, advanced upon the right, 
where the enemy's artillery was posted; and at the moment that 
colonel Ripley had assailed the left flank, he forced the right 
by a determined onset. Success appeared scarcely doubtful; 
when, unfortunately, general Covington, whose activity had 
render€Kl him conspicuous, became a mark for the sharp- 
shooters which the enemy had stationed in Chrystler's house, 
and was shot from his horse. The fall of this gallant ofiicer 
arrested the progress of the brigade ; and the artillery of the 
enemy threw it into confusion, and caused it to fall back in dis- 
order. The British commander now wheeled part of his line 
into column, with the view of capturing some pieces of artillery, 
which were left unprotected by the Americans. A body of dra- 
goons, under adjutant general Walbach, attempted, in a very gal- 
lant manner, to charge the British column ; but from the nature of 
the ground were not successful. At this critical moment, colo- 
nel Ripley, who had been engaged with the enemy's left flank, 
threw his regiment between the artillery and the advancing 
column, and frustrated their design. The British fell back with 
precipitation. The American regiments which had broken had 
not retired from the field, but still continued to maintain an irre 
gular fight with various success. The Twenty-first having by 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 173 



General Hampton declines co operation with General Wilkinson. 

this time expended its ammunition, and being in an exposed 
situation, was withdrawn from the position in which it had 
been placed by colonel Ripley ; and the enemy again attempted 
to possess themselves of the artillery. One piece was unfor- 
tunately captured by them, in consequence of the death of lieu- 
tenant William S. Smith, who commanded it : the rest were 
brought off by the coolness and bravery of captain Armstrong- 
Irvine. The action soon after ceased, having been kept up for 
two hours by undisciplined troops against an equal number of 
veterans. The British force consisted of detachments from 
the Forty-ninth, Eighty-fourth, and One hundred and fourth 
regiments of the line, and of three companies of the Voltigeur 
and Glengary corps. The enemy soon after retired to their 
camp, and the Americans to their boats. 

In this battle the loss of the Americans amounted to three 
hundred and thirty-nine wounded, and one hundred and two 
killed. Among the killed were lieutenants Smith, Hunter and 
Holmstead : among the wounded, were general Covington, who 
died two days afterwards ; colonel Preston ; majors Chambers, 
Noon and Cummings ; captains Townsend, Foster, Myers, 
Campbell and Murdock ; and lieutenants Heaton, Williams, 
Lynch, Pelham, Brown, and Creery. The British loss could 
not have been less than that of the Americans. 

Both parties claimed the victory on this occasion ; but it was 
properly a drawn battle ; the British retiring to their encamp- 
ments, and the Americans to their boats. Perhaps, from the 
circumstance that the enemy never again assailed the Ameri- 
can army, it may be assumed, that they were defeated. Ge- 
neral Brown had, in the meanwhile, reached the foot of the 
Rapid, and awaited the arrival of the army. On the 11th, 
the army proceeded on its route, and joined the advance near 
Barnhart. At this place, information was received which at 
once put an end to the further prosecution of the design on 
Montreal. 

On the 6th, a few days before the battle of Chrystler's Field, 
-he commander-in-chief had sent orders to general Hampton, 
to meet him at St. Regis. A letter in reply was received from 
general Hampton, in which he stated, that owing to the dis- 
closure of the scantiness of general Wilkinson's supply of 
provisions, and the condition of the roads to St. Regis which 
rendered it impossible to transport a quantity greater than 
could be carried by a man on his back, he had determined to 
open a communication with the St. Lawrence at Coghnawago. 
About the time that general Wilkinson was concentrating the 
army at Grenadier island, preparatory to the descent of the 



174 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Grcneral Hampton descends the Chateaugay River Retreats. 

St. Lawrence, general Hampton, with a view to a readier 
co-operation in the contemplated attempt on Montreal, had de- 
scended the Chateaugay river from Plattsburg, with the forces 
under his command. The British geaeral, perceiving this move- 
ment towards Montreal, had collected all his force to oppose it. 
On the 21st of October, General Hampton found his road ob- 
structed by fallen timber, and ambuscades of the enemy's militia 
and Indians. A wood of considerable extent lay in advance, 
through which it was necessary to pass ; and while the engineers 
were engaged in cutting a way through, colonel Purdy, with the 
light troops and one regiment of the line, was detached, with 
directions to turn the enemy's flank, and then seize on the open 
country below. In this he succeeded, and the army by the 
next day reached the position of the advance. About seven 
miles further on the route, was another wood, which the enemy 
had felled and formed into an abatis, and filled with a suc- 
cession of breast-works, the rearmost of which was well sup- 
plied with artillery. General Prevost was understood to have 
command of the forces which had these works in charge. On 
the 25th, colonel Purdy, with the first brigade, was ordered to 
cross the river and march down on the opposite side, until he 
should have passed the enemy, when he was to re-cross and 
attack him in his rear ; whilst the brigade under general Izard 
would assail him in front. Colonel Purdy accordingly crossed 
the river ; but he had not marched far, when his orders were 
countermanded. On his return, he was attacked by the enemy's 
infantry and Indians, and repelled them, after a short contest 
in which they threw his column into some confusion. At the 
same moment they came out of their works in front, and at- 
tacked general Izard, but were soon after compelled to retire 
behind their defences. General Hampton, now receiving in- 
formation that the enemy were obtaining accessions continually, 
resolved, by the advice of his officers, to retreat to a position, 
which he had occupied some days before, called the Four Cor- 
ners. Here he arrived on the last day of the month. The 
British claimed a victory for this affair; which, they said, was 
gained with a very inferior force. It was not, however, the 
intention of general Hampton to penetrate to Montreal, but 
merely to divert the attention of the British from the army of 
general Wilkinson. Having accomplished this object, he fell 
back to a position whence he could, with greater facility, make 
liis way to some point on the St. Lawrence. It was then that, 
m reply ^to the order of the commander-in-chief, he despatched 
the letter already mentioned, stating the impracticability of a 
compliance with it. On the receipt of general Hamilton's com^ 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 175 

American Annies go into Winter duarlers Failure of the Expedition. 

munication, a council of the principal officers was called, at 
which it was determined that the objects of the campaign were 
no longer attainable. It was therefore resolved that the army 
should quit the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence, and retire 
into winter quarters at French Mills on Salmon river. Gene- 
ral Hampton, with his troops, soon after followed this example ; 
and, in consequence of indisposition, resigned the command of 
Ihem to general Izard. Thus terminated a campaign, the issue 
of which gave rise to dissatisfaction proportioned to the sanguine 
anticipations which had been indulged. 

This unexpected turn of affairs appeared to cast a shade 
upon all the brilliant successes which had preceded. Much 
diversity of opinion prevailed as to the causes of the failure, 
and the. parties who ought to bear the blame. General Wil- 
kinson, after the disappointment which he met with in his rein- 
forcement and supplies, could not perhaps with prudence have 
persevered in the prosecution of the original object of the cam- 
paign ; and besides, from the state of his health, he was not 
qualified to carry into execution what would have required the 
utmost vigour of mind and body. With respect to Hampton, 
military men will probably say, that it was his duty to have 
obeyed ; but if we place implicit reliance upon the correctness 
of the facts which he alleged, it will be difficult to condemn his 
conduct. The presence of the secretary at war, for the pur- 
pose of superintending the operations of the campaign, was 
perhaps more injurious than serviceable. He was by no means 
in a situation in which he could be considered responsible for 
the failure of the plan ; and yet, in the event of success, he 
might have claimed the merit of it for his own. It was an un- 
fair and improper interference which ought to be condemned. 

While these things were taking place on the land, the com- 
mander of our squadron on Lake Ontario was not idle. Com- 
modore Chauncey, it has been seen, after his first attempt to 
bring the enemy to action, returned to Sackett's Harbour. 
Being reinforced by an additional schooner, he again sailed on 
a cruise. On the 7th of September, he' discovered the British 
squadron near the Niagara, and immediately stood for it. Sir 
James Yeo, on perceiving the Americans, made sail to the 
northward. He was pursued during four days and nights ; but 
owing to the dull sailing of most of the pursuing vessels, he con- 
trived to keep out of their reach. On the fourth day, of?' Gene- 
see river, commodore Chauncey took advantage of a breeze 
which arose, and endeavoured, while sir James lay becalmed, to 
close with him ; but he was not able to accomplish this, as the 
breeze came up with the enemy when the American squadron 



176 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Cruise of Commodore Chauncey on Lake Ontario. 

was still distant half a mile. After a running fight of more than 
three hours, the British escaped, and the next morning ran 
into Amherst Bay. The American commodore, having no pilot, 
did not think it prudent to follow them, and contented himself 
with forming a blockade. In this skirmish, t)ie British sustained 
considerable injury, while that of the Americans was very tri- 
fling. The blockade was continued until the 17th of September, 
when, in consequence of a heavy gale from the westward, the 
British escaped into Kingston, and the American fleet returned 
to Sackett's Harbour. 

After a few hours delay at Sackett's Harbour, commodore 
Chauncey again sailed towards Niagara, where he arrived on 
the 24th of September. On the 19th, he passed sir James Yeo 
at the False Ducks, but took no notice of him ; hoping thereby 
to draw him out into the lake. On the 26th, the American 
commodore received information that the enemy was in York 
Bay. He therefore made for that place, as fast as his dull 
sailing schooners would permit ; and on the 28th, early in the 
morning, discovered the enemy in motion in the bay, and im- 
mediately ran down for his centre. This being perceived by 
sir James, he stood out and endeavoured to escape to the south- 
ward ; but finding that the American fleet was closing upon him, 
he ordered the vessels of his squadron to tack in succession, and 
commenced a well directed fire at the General Pike, commodore 
Chauncey's flag ship, with the view of covering his rear. As 
he passed to leeward, he attacked the American rear ; but this 
part of his plan was frustrated by the skilful manoeuvring of 
Chauncey. By bearing down in line on the centre of the enemy's 
squadron, he threw them into such confusion, that Yeo immedi- 
ately bore away, but not before his flag ship, the Wolf, had been 
roughly handled by that of the commodore. In twenty minutes, 
the main and mizen top-masts and main yard of the Wolf were 
shot away ; but the British commander, by setting all sail on 
his mainmast and keeping dead before the wind, was enabled 
to outstrip the greater part of Chauncey's squadron. The chase 
was continued until three o'clock, P. M. ; the General Pike 
having the Asp in tow, and, during the greater part of the time, 
being within reach of the enemy's shot. Captain Crane, in 
the Madison, and lieutenant Brown, of the Oneida, used every 
exertion to close with the enemy, but without success. The 
pursuit was at length reluctantly given up ; as it came on to blow 
almost a gale, and there was no hope of closing with the enemy 
before he could reach the British batteries, nor without great 
risk of running ashore. The commodore was justly entitled 
to claim a victory in this affair. Although the enemy were not 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 177 

He captures live British Armed Schooners. 

captured, they were certainly beaten ; two of their vessels had 
at one time been completely in the commodore's power ; and 
but for his eagerness to close with the whole fleet, they could 
not have effected their escape. The loss on board the General 
Pike was considerable, owing to her long exposure to the fire 
of the enemy's fleet ; which was seriously increased by the 
bursting of one of her guns, an accident by which twenty-two 
men were killed or wounded. The vessel also was a good deal 
cut up in her hull and rigging. 

Commodore Chauncey, shortly afler this affair, communi- 
cated with general Wilkinson on the subject of the expedition 
then on foot ; and was advised to continue his watch of t?ie 
enemy's squadron, and, if possible, to prevent its return to 
Kingston. In the beginning of October, he again pursued the 
hostile fleet for several days, and forced it to take refuge in 
Burlington Bay ; and, the next morning, on sending the schoon- 
er Lady of the- Lake to reconnoitre, he found that sir James 
had taken advantage of the darkness of the night, and escaped 
towards Kingston. Much pleasantry was indulged in, at the 
shyness of the British knight, and his ungallant escape from 
the Lady of the Lake. The chase was now renewed, and, 
favoured by the wind, the commodore came in sight of seven 
schooners belonging to the enemy. Before sun-down, three of 
them struck to the General Pike ; another to the Sylph and the 
Lady of the Lake ; and afterwards a fifth to the Sylph. They 
turned out to be gun vessels, bound to the head of the lake as 
transports. Two of them were the Julia and Growler, which 
liad been taken from the Americans by the enemy, as men- 
tioned in a previous chapter. On board of the captured schoon- 
ers were three hundred soldiers, belonging to De Watteville's 
regiment. It was ascertained that the ship of sir James Yeo, 
and the Royal George, had suffered very considerable injury, 
as well as loss in killed and wounded. The enemy's fleet were 
seen going into Kingston the same evening ; and commodore 
Chauncey remained master of the lake during the remainder 
of the season. -^ 

The consequences of leaving a large force in the rear, and 
withdrawing the troops from the Niagara, soon began to be felt. 
General Harrison reached Buffalo some days after the departure 
of the commander-in-chief; and although directed to follow 
immediately, he was compelled to wait until sometime in No- 
vember, in consequence of the deficiency of transports. It 
was not until general Wilkinson had gone into winter quarters 
that Harrison embarked ; orders having previously been sent 
for him to remain at Buffalo, which unfortunately did not arrive 



178 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Burning of Newark by the Americans British Retaliation. 

until after his departure. Fort George was left under the com- 
mand of general M'Clure, with troops consisting entirely of 
militia whose term of service had nearly expired. By the 10th 
of December, his force being reduced to a handful of men, and 
a considerable body of the enemy being within a few miles of 
him, he called a council of officers, at which it was unani- 
mously agreed, that the place was no longer tenable. Scarcely 
had the general time to blow up the fort and pass the river, 
before the British appeared. His retreat was preceded by an 
act which excited universal dissatisfaction throughout the United 
•States. Oo the Canadian side of the Niagara and situated im- 
mediately below where Fort George stood, was a handsome vil- 
lage, called Newark. As this place, from its situation, would 
greatly favour the besiegers, authority had been given by the 
secretary of vrar, in case it became necessary for the defence 
of the fort, to destroy the village. The general, misconceiving 
these orders, gave twelve hours' notice to the inhabitants to 
retire with their effects, fired the buildings, and left the village 
in flames. This act was no sooner known to the American 
government, than it was promptly disavowed. On the 6th of 
January following, the order under which general M'Clure con- 
ceived himself to have acted, was enclosed to sir George Pre- 
vost, with a formal intimation that the act was unauthorised. To 
this an answer dated the 10th of February was returned by the 
governor of Canada, in which he expressed " great satisfaction, 
that he had received assurance that the perpetration of the burn- 
ing of the town of Newark was both unauthorised by the Ameri- 
can government, and abhorrent to every American feeling ; that 
if any outrages had ensued the wanton and unjustifiable destruc- 
tion of Newark, passing the bounds of just retaliation, they 
were to be attributed to the influence of irritated passions, on 
the part of the unfortunate sufferers by that event." 

The diflerence of the principles, on which the war was car- 
ried on by the Americans, and by the British, was very striking. 
The former, uniformly disavowing the system of retaliation, 
considered the outrages committed by British officers unau- 
thorised, until expressly acknowledged by the British govern- 
ment : while the British, on the contrary, proceeded at once to 
retaliate any \'iolation of the laws of war, without waiting to 
inquire whether it was disapproved or sanctioned by our 
government. Had the Americans followed the example of 
their enemies, the burning of Newark would have been amply 
justified by the outrages which had been wantonly committed 
on Lake Champlain and on the sea-board ; and yet, shortly 
after the massacre and conflagration of the village of Hampton, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 179 

Fort Niagara surprised Destruction of Lewistown, BuffaJo and other places. 

when the captain of an American privateer had destroyed some 
private property in the West Indies, on the score of retaliation, 
his commission was instantly taken from him, and the act pub- 
licly disapproved. Their high sense of honourable warfare, 
was indeed manifested by the American government in a very 
remarkable manner. Our humane treatment of British prison- 
ers was acknowledged in the British house of commons even 
by lord Castlereagh ; but he meanly attributed it to fear. 

Sir George Prevost, however,, without waiting for the disap- 
proval by the American government of the burning of Newark, 
had proceeded to inflict a retaliation sufficient to satiate the ven- 
geance of the fiercest enemy. At daylight, on the 19th of 
December, Fort Niagara was surprised by colonel Murray, 
with about four hundred British regulars, militia and Indians ; 
and the garrison, nearly three hundred in number and princi- 
pally invalids, was put to the sword. Not more than twenty 
effected their escape. The commanding officer, captain Leon- 
ard, appears to have been shamefully negligent, or perhaps he 
had been bought by the enemy. He was absent at the time, 
and had used no precautions against an assault. Having pos- 
sessed themselves of this post, the British soon after increased 
their force, and began to lay waste the Niagara frontier with 
fire and sword. A spirited, but unavaiHng attempt was made 
by major Bennett to defend Lewistown from the enemy. This 
place, together with the villages of Manchester, Youngstown, 
and the town of the Tuscarora Indians, was speedily reduced 
to ashes ; and many of the inhabitants were butchered. Major 
Mallory advanced from Schlosser, to oppose the invaders ; but 
was compelled by superior numbers to retreat. On the 30th, 
a British detachment landed at Black Rock, and proceeded to 
Buffalo. General Hall had organized a body of militia for 
the defence of the place ; but on the approach of the enemy, 
they could not be induced to hold their ground, although great 
exertions were made by majors Staunton and Norton and 
lieutenant Riddle. This village also was reduced to ashes. 
The whole frontier, indeed, for many miles, exhibited a scene 
of ruin and devastation. 

Thus was ample vengeance taken for the burning of Newark. 
Even the British general was satisfied. In his proclamation 
of the 12th of January, he said, " the opportunity of punish- 
ment has occurred, and a full measure of retribution has taken 
place ;" and he declared his intention of " pursuing no further 
a system of warfare so revolting to his own feelings, and so 
little congenial to the British character." It would have been 
well to ask, whether the <:onflagrations and pillaging antece- 



180 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Meeting of Congress Violence of Party Spirit. 

dently committed on Lake Chaniplain, and the horrid outrages 
in Chesapeake Bay, in the course of the previous summer, were 
not an ample set-off for the burning of Newark 1 Would that 
the enemy had so deemed them ! 

The affair continued to be followed up by subsequent retalia- 
tory measures in other quarters of our extended territory. The 
decree of admiral Cochrane, to lay waste our maritime towns 
and districts, was founded, in part, on the destruction of New- 
ark, and the charge that we had burnt the parliament house at 
York in Upper Canada. It was not enough that the burning 
of Newark should have been reprobated and disavowed by our 
government ; it was not enough that it should be expiated by 
an extensive course of murder and conflagration on our lake 
shores, which, according to the admission of sir George Pre- 
vost already recited, amply glutted the vengeance of Britain : 
but our extensive sea-coast of fifteen hundred miles, and our 
populous and flourishing cities, must be given up to destruction 
and pillage, to fill up the measure of British retaliation. These 
events will, however, be detailed in their proper place. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Meeting of Congress— Violence of Party Spirit— Lukewarm Deportment of the New 
England States— Measures for carrying on the War— Recourse to Taxation— Adop- 
tion of means for recruiting the Army — Interesting case of twenty-three American 
Prisoners— Arrogance of the British government— Debates in Congress on the subject 
—•Result of the Debates— Inquiry by Congress into the manner in which the War 
had been carried on by the Enemy— American Commissioners of Peace sent to Got- 
tenburg— The War gains ground in Public Opinion. 

On the 6th of December 1813, the congress of the United 
States again assembled. The fever of party spirit had almost 
reached its crisis, and the debates in that body were character- 
ized by a virulence and animosity which had never before been 
witnessed since the foundation of our government. It would 
be improper, at this date, to enter minutely into the discussion 
of a subject which at any rate had better be forgotten ; and in a 
narrative of the events of the war, there is scarcely room for it. 
On the one side, we find the opposition accused of manifesting a 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 181 

Lukewarm Deportment of the New England States. 

spirit of hostility to their country, and a determined resistance to 
every measure for carrying on the war, although from the peremp- 
tory rejection by Great Britain of the Russian mediation, there 
existed no hope of peace. On the other hand, the party in 
power were charged with having ruined the country, destroyed 
its commerce, involved it in debts which it could never pay, 
and with being engaged in a guilty project of conquest, under 
the pretext of vindicating national rights. Every measure with 
respect to the war was sure to involve in it a consideration of 
its causes, and the same discussions were renewed until they 
grew stale by repetition. The opposition to every measure 
proposed for the prosecution of hostilities turned upon the in- 
justice and wickedness of the war. By some it was denied that 
any cause of war existed ; and by others it was alleged, that 
although we had cause, the time chosen for declaring it was 
improper. Among the members in opposition was Mr. Webster, 
of whom it is but justice to say, that his sentiments were uni- 
formly national. The splendid abilities of this gentleman, and 
the no less splendid but more popular career of Mr. Calhoun, 
first became conspicuous about this period. The opposition of 
Mr. Webster was manly and generous. The support given to 
the administration by Mr. Calhoun, was fervid and powerful. 
Notwithstanding the warm and often intemperate debates to 
which these subjects gave rise, the different measures in sup- 
port of the war continued to be carried by large majorities. 

In some of the New England states, the opposition was car- 
ried on in a spirit of animosity, which occasioned serious regret 
in the breasts of the more considerate. Such conduct did not, 
by any means, meet with the concurrence of the opposition 
party in other parts of the United States, and certainly not of 
the great mass of the population of the states in which it was 
exhibited. The effects of the embargo, which was about this 
time adopted, and the non-intercourse, it was said, were felt 
much more severely by the people of New England, than in 
the southern districts ; and the administration was accused of 
partiality. It was alleged in reply, that the smuggling on the 
Canada line, and the trade from the northern ports with the 
British, was carried on to such an extent, as almost to put the 
government at defiance ; and that the British squadron, which 
had so much harassed the southern coasts, had been in a great 
measure supplied to the northward, when without such assist- 
ance it would have been difficult, if not impossible, for it to 
remain on our shores. 

The war had hitherto been supported by means of loans ; a3 
the resources of the government, which were derived exclu- 



182 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Measures for carrying on the War Recourse to Taxation. 

sively from sales of public lands and from imposts, were alto- 
gether inadequate. It was now perceived that even as the secu- 
rity upon which to support a credit these were insufficient ; and 
it was therefore determined to create an internal revenue. This 
measure, it may be said, ought to have been coeval with the 
war : but the unwillingness of the people to submit to taxation, 
had already been seen ; and hence it was the wish of the ad- 
ministration to avoid it as long as possible. At the declaration 
of war, it was believed that England would scarcely require us 
to give proof of our ability to carry it on. The proposals for 
a cessation of hostilities, and the proffered Russian mediation, 
kept up the hopes of peace for a time ; and a measure disagree- 
able to the people was therefore delayed until it had become 
unavoidable, or rather until it was called for by themselves. 
The expenses of the war had also unexpectedly increased, from 
the unlooked-for reverses of our arms to the westward, and the 
consequent necessity for the creation of fleets on the lakes ; 
while the means of meeting them were diminished by the un- 
willingness of the New England people to join heartily in its 
prosecution. Had we possessed ourselves of Upper Canada, 
there is very little doubt that we should have had peace the first 
year of the war ; for it was not until she discovered our weak- 
ness on our northern and western frontiers, that England reject- 
ed the Russian mediation. Not that the loss of Canada would 
have been a matter of so much consequence to Great Britain; 
but that it would have furnished her with conclusive proof, that 
she could have no hope of severing the union by sowing dis- 
sensions between the different states. 

The next thing with which the national legislature occupied 
itself, was the provision of means for filling the ranks of the 
army. The difficulty of inducing men to enlist continued to 
increase, and even furnished an argument to prove that the 
war was not popular. But this could be easily accounted for, 
from the natural reluctance of all men, not actually urged by 
their necessities, to enter into a positive engagement to serve as 
common soldiers for a number of years. Besides, the profession 
of the common soldier, during our long peace, and on account of 
the inconsiderable force kept on foot, had sunk very low in the 
estimation of the people : an enlisted soldier was almost a pro- 
verbial name for a lazy, worthless fellow. An idea was also 
prevalent, that the obligations of the enlisted soldier created a 
species of slavery ; or, at least, were incompatible with repub- 
lican freedom : this was sufficient to prevent a great number 
of spirited and enterprising young men from entering the army. 
The sons of farmers, and young mechanics, were willing 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 183 

Measures for recruiting the Army .... Case of twenty-three American Prisoners. 

enough to engage as volunteers, or to turn out on a tour of 
militia duty ; but to enter into engagements which were perma- 
nent, or which they regarded as disreputable, was a very different 
matter. The only mode of combating this aversion, was the 
offering of extravagant bounties ; not so much with the view of 
holding out a bait to cupidity, as to overcome the popular pre- 
judice against this mode of serving the country. A law was 
passed, increasing the pay of privates, and giving them bounties 
in money and lands to a considerable amount. This, it was 
confidently hoped, would produce the desired effect. 

During this session a very interesting subject was submitted 
to the consideration of congress. Twenty-three American sol- 
diers, taken at the battle of Queenstovvn in the autumn of 1812, 
were detained in close confinement on the charge of being 
native-born British subjects, and afterwards sent to England to 
undergo a trial for treason. On this being made known to our 
government, orders were given to general Dearborne to confine 
a like number of British prisoners taken at Fort George, and 
to keep them as hostages for the safety of the Americans ; in- 
structions which were carried into effect, and soon after made 
known to the governor of Canada. The British government 
was no sooner informed of this, than governor Prevost was 
ordered to place forty-six American commissioned and non- 
commissioned officers in confinement. Governor Prevost, in 
his letter to general Wilkinson upon this subject, stated, that 
he had been directed to apprise him, that if any of the British 
prisoners should suffer death, in consequence of the twenty- 
three American soldiers above mentioned being found guilty 
and the known law of Great Britain and of every other coun- 
try in similar circumstances being executed on them, double the 
number of American officers should suffer instant death : he 
further notified the general, for the information of his govern- 
ment, that orders had been given to the British commanders to 
prosecute the war with unrelenting severity, if unhappily, after 
this notice, the American government should not be deterred 
from putting to death the British soldiers now in confinement. 
General Wilkinson, in his reply, forbore to animadvert on the 
nature of the procedure, but could not help expressing his sur- 
prise at the threat by which the British government supposed 
the United States could be awed into submission. " The govern- 
ment of the United States," said he, " cannot be deterred by 
any considerations of life or death, of depredation or conflagra- 
tion, from the faithful discharge of its duty towards the Ameri- 
can people." The arrogance and haughtiness of the British 
ofliieer in holding this language, so far from intimidating a 



184 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Arrogance of the British Government Warm Debates in Congress. 

people who are proud of their independence and jealous of 
their national honour, was only calculated to render resistance 
more obstinate ; and justly excited the indignation of everj 
American. General Wilkinson soon after informed governor 
Prevost, that, in consequence of orders he had received from 
his government, he had put forty-six British officers in confine 
ment, to be there detained until it should be known that th 
American officers were released. On the receipt of this Intel 
ligence, the Canadian governor ordered all the American pri 
soners into close confinement ; and a similar step was soon 
after taken by our government. 

This interesting subject gave rise to warm debates in con- 
gress. One party insisted that Great Britain had a right to 
her subjects, in all situations and under all circumstances ; that 
they were in fact her property, and without her consent they 
never could free themselves from her authority. They contend- 
ed further, that a man cannot divest himself of his allegiance to 
the government of the country in which he happens to be born ; 
that although he may leave the country of his birth for a time, 
he never can expatriate himself. The procedure of our admin- 
istration, in attempting to prevent the British government from 
punishing natives of Great Britain naturalized in this country 
for taking up arms against that power, was condemned. It 
was immaterial, it was asserted, that such persons had resided 
among us ten or even twenty years before the war ; they must 
be regarded in the same light as deserters from the British ar- 
mies. It was answered on the other side, that it ill became 
Americans to deny the right of expatriation on principle ; how- 
ever we might from necessity yield to the unjust laws of other 
nations, where the subject is regarded as a slave — for he that 
has an owner whom he cannot change, is indeed a slave. Can 
it be possible, it was asked, for an American to contend on 
principle, that a free man cannot change his allegiance, and 
attach himself to the country of his choice, but that he must 
for ever drag a chain after him at every remove ? Such a doc- 
trine could only originate in that species of slavery called the 
feudal system ; and was indeed closely allied to that of the divine 
right of kings, or rather of legitimate sovereigns ; which goes 
so far as to assert that no government is lawful, unless it exists 
in the hands of some one who claims it by birthright — or at 
least, that this is the only just foundation of European dynasties. 
If we ought not to reprobate such systems of government, it 
is permissible to view them with compassion ; for we cannot 
admire them, without at the same time despising our own noble 
institutions ! The principle of American liberty is, that alle- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 185 



Result of the Debates. 



giance is a matter of choice, not force ; and however we may 
unavoidably give way, where we interfere with the usages of 
other nations, we ought never to approve the principle. But, 
it was further contended, that, according to the law and the 
uniform practice of nations, the right of expatriation was 
acknowledged. Numerous instances were cited, where the 
subjects of a nation taken in arms against her, were regularly 
exchanged. The practice of Great Britain in naturalizing 
foreigners was also shown : by which they were placed on the 
same footing with her native citizens, and equally entitled to 
protection. She could not object to our practice of naturaliz- 
ing her subjects, as she did the same thing with respect to our 
citizens. Would she not think herself bound to protect her 
adopted subjects 1 If the United States alone naturalized for- 
eigners, the case might then rest on its principles ; but when 
the same thing is done everywhere, who has a right to com- 
plain? A case in point was adduced, to show the practice of 
the British government, where she was differently situated. She 
had engaged in her service a regiment of French emigrants, 
to serve against France ; and the question was agitated in the 
house of commons, whether she should proceed to retaliate, in 
case the French should put any of them, if captured, to death : 
and it was agreed that such would have been her duty. She 
went much further than the American government : lord Mul- 
grave declared in debate, that, " while he had the command of 
the British troops at Toulon, and of the French who voluntarily 
flocked to their standard, under the authority and invitation of 
his Britannic majesty's proclamation, he had always considered 
the latter entitled to the same protection in every respect as 
the British troops." Thus it appeared, that, both in principle 
and practice, the conduct of Great Britain had been similar to 
that of the United States. 

The result of this debate was a determination to maintain 
with firmness the position which the administration had taken ; 
and if Great Britain persisted in the unhappy resolution of ren- 
dering the war bloody beyond the example of modern times, 
as they had already rendered it most barbarous and ferocious, 
the United States must reluctantly pursue a course to be 
lamented by every man of common humanity. 

Somewhat connected with this, was an investigation, which 
was set on foot, of the spirit in which the war had been carried 
on by the enemy. The report of the committee charged with 
it enumerated the various instances, in which the British mili- 
tary and naval officers had violated all the known usages of 
civilized nations, in their manner of conducting the war against 

Q, * 



186 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Inquiry by Congress into the Enemy's mode of carrying on the War. 

the United States. The massacres on the river Raisin, the 
depredations and conflagrations along the lakes before there 
existed any pretext for retaliation, and the barbarous warfare of 
the sea coast were spoken of in terms of the strongest reproba- 
tion. The war, on the part of Great Britain, had been carried 
on nearly in the same spirit as at the commencement of our 
struggle for independence : she appeared to be actuated by a 
belief that she was chastising rebellious subjects, and not con- 
tending with an independent nation. The treatment of Ameri- 
can prisoners was the most cruel that can be imagined : several 
hundred unhappy wretches were shut up, without light or air, 
in the holds of ships, and in this manner were carried across 
the Atlantic. In this cruel and unnecessary transportation many 
of our countrymen perished, and all experienced sufferings 
almost incredible. Such treatment was contrasted with that 
received by British prisoners in this country, who in fact were 
treated more like guests than prisoners. The committee declared 
itself satisfied, from the evidence submitted to it, that Great Brit- 
ain had violated the laws of war in the most flagrant manner ; 
and submitted to congress the propriety of devising some mode 
of putting a stop to such disgraceful conduct. Among the most 
extraordinary of the enemy's acts, was the putting in close con- 
finement the unfortunate Americans who had been kidnapped 
by her before the war and compelled to fight her battles. 
About two thousand, who were acknowledged to be Americans, 
on refusing to fight against their country, were compelled to 
undergo the same treatment as if they had been prisoners of 
war. This was indeed accumulating outrage upon outrage. 
It were well if this had been the whole number ; but there was 
every reason to believe, that by far a larger number were still 
compelled to obey the officers who had enslaved them, under 
the pretence that they were not Americans. 

It has been mentioned, that Russia had offered her media- 
tion. Under the flimsy pretext of being unwilling to submit 
her rights to the decision of an umpire, this was declined by 
Great Britain ; although nothing of the kind was proposed, 
the interference of the emperor of Russia terminating when 
the contending parties had been brought together. The Prince 
Regent, however, olfered a direct negotiation at London or 
Gottenburg. This was no sooner made known to our govern- 
ment, than it was accepted. In addition to the commissioners 
already in Europe under the Russian mediation, the president 
nominated Henry Clay, Jonathan Russel and Albert Gallatin 
as commissioners of peace ; and they soon after left this coun- 
try for Gottenburg. Little more was expected, however, from 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 187 

Commissioners sent to Gottenburg War gains ground in Public Opinion. 

this, than to make apparent the sincerity of the United States 
in desiring peace ; and the conduct of Great Britain soon 
proved, that her only wish was to keep open a door for nego- 
tiation. Subsequent transactions sufficiently proved, that she 
rejected the Russian mediation solely with the view of gaining 
time. 

Notwithstanding the strength of the opposition on the floor 
of congress, the war was evidently gaining ground in the esti- 
mation of the people. The conduct of the enemy in the pro- 
secution of hostilities had been such as to awaken the patriot- 
ism of every American ; and his rejection of the Russian me- 
diation surprised many who had confidently predicted a prompt 
acceptance of it. The victories, which we had obtained at sea, 
came home to the feelings of the whole nation ; and were par- 
ticularly acceptable to the opposition, who claimed the exclu- 
sive merit of them, as having always been tlie best friends of 
the navy. Great Britain actually complained, that those 
whom she had considered her friends in America rejoiced in 
her naval defeats ; and accused them of faithlessness and incon- 
stancy, because they permitted their love of country to over- 
come their hatred for the men in power. The sentiment, that 
it becomes every virtuous man to rejoice in the good fortune 
of his country, however he may dislike the rulers for the time 
being, was gradually gaining ground. The warlike aspect of 
every thing around them, interested the ardent minds of the 
young and enterprising ; the feats of arms daily recounted, 
awakened a desire for distinction ; and the contagion of mili- 
tary pursuits, whether it was to be desired or regretted, began 
to spread rapidly. The habits of a people, who had been 
thirty years at peace, and constantly occupied in industrious 
callings, could not be changed suddenly : but men are by na- 
ture warlike, and they cannot exist long in the midst of martial 
scenes and preparations, without catching their spirit. It was 
no hazardous prediction, that the enemy of a party, would soon 
be considered as the enemy of the whole country. 



188 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



War with the Creek Indians Massacre by the Creeks at Fort Mims. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



War with the Creek Indians— Massacre by the Creeks at Fort Mims— Expedition 
under Generals Jackson and Cocke against Tallushatches — Battle of Talladega — Ge- 
neral Cocke surprises the Indians on the Tallapoosa River— General Floyd's Expedi- 
tion against the Autossee Towns — General Claiborne's Expedition against the 
Towns of Eccanachaca— General Jackson marches to the relief of Fort Armstrong — 
His Critical Situation, and Retreat — Defeats an Indian Ambuscade — Indians attack 
General Floyd at Camp Defiance, and are repulsed — General Jackson gains the san- 
guinary Victory of Horse-Shoe-Bend— Terminates the Creek War and dictates Peace 
on Severe Terms. 

Our affairs to the south had assumed a serious aspect ; and 
when the northern armies had retired into winter quarters, the 
pubUc attention was kept aUve, by the interesting events which 
transpired in the country of the Creeks. That ill-fated people, 
under British influence, had at length declared open war. 

In consequence of the threatening appearances to the south, 
and the hostilities which already prevailed among the Indians 
inhabiting what was then the Spanish territory, governor Mit- 
chel of Georgia was required by the secretary of war to de- 
tach a brigade to the Ocmulgee river, for the purpose of cover- 
ing the frontier settlements of that state. Governor Holmes, 
of the Mississippi territory, was at the same time ordered to 
call out a body of militia, which were to join the volunteers 
under General Claiborne then stationed on the Mobile. In the 
course of the summer of 1813, the settlers in the vicinity of 
that river became so much alarmed at the hostile deportment 
of the Creeks, that the greater part of them had abandoned 
their plantations, and sought refuge in the nearest fortresses. 
Those among the Creeks'who were well disposed to the United 
States, being much the weaker party, had also, in some places, 
shut themselves up in forts, where they were already besieged 
by their countrymen. 

The commencement of hostilities was signalized by one of the 
most shocking massacres that can be found in the history of our 
Indian wars. The settlers, under an imperfect idea of their 
danger, had thrown themselves into small forts or stations, at 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 189 



Massacre by the Creeks at Fort Mims. 



great distances from each other, on the various branches of the 
Mobile. Early in August it was ascertained, that the Indians 
intended to make an attack upon all these stations, and destroy 
them; in detail. The first place which they determined to 
attempt was Fort Mims, in which the greatest number of fami- 
lies had been collected. Toward the close of August, informa- 
tion was brought that the Indians were about to assail this 
post , and in the first moments of the alarm caused by this news, 
the occupants made some preparations for defence. It seems, 
however, that it was almost impossible to awake them to a sense 
of the proximity of their danger. The fort was commanded 
by major Beasley, of the Mississippi territory, a brave officer, 
and as a private citizen, highly respected, and garrisoned by 
about one hundred volunteers. By some fatality, notwithstand- 
ing the warnings he had received, the commander was not suf- 
ficiently on his guard, and suffered himself to be surprised at 
noon-day of the 30th, entirely unprepared. Scarcely had the 
sentinel time to give notice of the approach of the Indians, ere 
they rushed, with a dreadful yell, through the gate, which was 
wdde open. The garrison was instantly under arms, and the 
major flew towards the gate, with some of his men, in order to 
close it, and if possible expel the enemy ; but he soon afler fell 
mortally wounded. Afler great slaughter on both sides, the gate 
was at length closed ; but a number of the Indians had taken 
possession of a block-house, from which they were not expelled, 
until after a bloody contest. The assault was continued for an 
hour, on the outside of the pickets ; and the port-holes were 
several times carried by the assailants, and as often retaken by 
those within the fort. 

The Indians now for a moment withdrew, apparently dis- 
heartened by their loss ; but on being harangued by their chief, 
Weatherford, they returned with augmented fury to the assault. 
Having procured axes, they cut down the gate and made a 
breach in the pickets ; and, possessing themselves of the area 
of the fort, compelled the besieged to take refuge in the houses. 
Here a gallant resistance was made by the inmates, until the 
Indians set fire to the roofs ; when the situation of these unfor- 
tunate people became altogether hopeless. It is only by those 
who have some faint idea of the nature of Indian warfare, that 
the horror of their situation can be conceived. The agonizing 
shrieks of the unfortunate women and children at their unhappy 
fate, might have awakened pity in the breasts of any but Indians. 
Not an individual was spared by these monsters : from the 
most aged person to the youngest infant, all became the victims 
of their indiscriminate butchery ; excepting only those who 



1 90 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Expedition against Tallushatches Battle of Talladega. 

threw themselves into the flames, to avoid a worse fate ! and a 
few who escaped by leaping over the pickets. About two hun- 
dred and sixty persons, of all ages and sexes, thus perished, 
including some friendly Indians and about one hundred negroes. 
The panic which this dreadful massacre excited at the other 
posts can scarcely be described : the wretched inhabitants, 
fearing a similar fate, abandoned their retreats of fancied secu- 
rity in the middle of the night, and, in their endeavours to 
escape to Mobile, encountered every species of suffering and 
privation. The dwellings of the settlers were burnt, and their 
cattle destroyed. 

On the receipt of this disastrous intelligence, the Tennessee 
militia, under the orders of general Jackson and general Cocke, 
immediat-ely marched to the country of the Creeks. On the 
2d of November, general Coffee was detached, with nine hun- 
dred men, against Tallushatches, a Creek town, and reached 
the place about daylight on the 3d. The Indians, aware of his 
approach, were prepared to receive him. Within a short dis- 
tance of the village they charged upon him with unexampled 
boldness ; and although repulsed, made a most obstinate resist- 
ance. They refused to receive quarter, and were slain almost 
to a man. Nearly two hundred of their warriors were killed 
in this affair. The women and children were taken prisoners. 
The loss of the Americans was five killed and forty wounded. 

Late in the morning of the 7th, an express brought intelli- 
gence to general Jackson, that, about thirty miles below his 
camp, at a place called Fort Talladega, a considerable number 
of hostile Creeks were engaged in besieging some friendly 
Indians, who must inevitably perish unless speedily relieved. 
This officer, whose resolutions were executed as rapidly as 
they were formed, marched at twelve o'clock the same night, 
at the head of twelve hundred men, and arrived within six 
miles of the place the next evening. At midnight he again 
advanced, and by seven o'clock of the following morning was 
within a mile of the enemy. He now made the most judicious 
arrangements for surrounding them : and approached, within 
eighty yards, almost unperceived. The battle commenced on 
the part of the Indians with great fury. Being repulsed on all 
sides, they attempted to make their escape, but found them- 
selves enclosed ; and had not two companies of militia given 
way, whereby a space was left open through which a consider- 
able number of the enemy escaped to the mountains, they would 
all have been taken prisoners or destroyed. In the pursuit 
many were sabred or shot down. In this action the American 
loss was fifteen killed, and eighty wounded. That of th^i Creeks 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 101 



Indians defeated on the Tallapoosa, at Autossee, and at Eccanachaca. 



was little short of three hundred killed, their whole force 
exceedinjT a thousand. 

General Cocke, who commanded the other division of the 
Tennessee militia, detached general White, on the 11th, from 
Fort Armstrong, where he was encamped, against the hostile 
towns on the Tallapoosa river. After marching the whole 
night of the 17th, he surprised a town at daylight, containing 
upwards of three hundred warriors, sixty of whom he killed 
and the rest took prisoners. Having burnt several villages 
which had been deserted by the Indians, he returned on the 
23d, without losing a single man. 

The Georgia militia, under general Floyd, advanced into the 
Creek country, about the last of November. Receiving infor- 
mation that a considerable body of Indians were collected at 
the Autossee towns, of which there were two, on the Talla- 
poosa river, a place which they called their beloved ground, 
and where, according to their prophets, no M'hite man could 
molest them, general Floyd placed himself at the head of nine 
hundred militia and four hundred friendly Creeks, and marched 
from his encampment on the Chattahouchee. On the evening 
of the 28th, he encamped within ten miles of the place, and 
resuming his march at one o'clock of the next morning, reached 
the towns about six, and commenced an attack upon both at the 
same moment. His troops were met by the Indians with uncom- 
mon bravery ; and it was only after a most obstinate resistance, 
that they were forced, by his musketry and bayonets, to fly 
into the thickets and copses in the rear of the towns. In the 
course of three hours from the commencement of the engage- 
ment, the enemy were completely defeated, and their villages 
wrapt in flames. The troops having almost exhausted their 
whole stock of provisions, and being sixty miles from any 
depot, and in the heart of a country filled with hosts of hostile 
savages, now returned to their encampment on the Chattahou- 
chee. In this battle eleven Americans were killed and fifty 
wounded ; among the latter, the general himself: of the enemy, 
it is supposed that, besides the Autossee and Tallassee kings, 
upwards of two hundred were killed. 

In the month of December, general Claiborne conducted a 
detachment, from Fort Claiborne, on the east side of the Ala- 
bama river, against the towns of Eccanachaca, on the Alabama 
river above the mouth of the Cahawba. On the 22d, he came 
suddenly upon them, killed thirty of their warriors, and after 
destroying their villages, returned. The loss to the Ameri- 
cans was, one killed and seven wounded. 

After the battle of Talladega, general Jackson was left with 



1 92 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

General Jackson marches to the Relief of Fort Armstrong Retreats. 

but a handful of men, in consequence of the term of service of 
the militia having expired. On the 14th of January, 1814, he 
was fortunately reinforced by eight hundred volunteers from 
Tennessee, and soon after by several hundred friendly In- 
dians. He was also joined by general Cofiee with a number 
of officers, his militia having returned home. On the 17th, 
with the view of making a diversion in favour of general Floyd, 
and at the same time of relieving Fort Armstrong, which was 
said to be threatened, he entered the Indian country, with the 
determination of penetrating still farther than had yet been 
attempted. On the evening of the 21st, believing himself, from 
appearances, in the vicinity of a large body of Indians, he 
encamped with great precaution and kept himself in the attitude 
of defence. During the night, one of his spies brought infor- 
mation that he had seen the enemy a few miles off, and that as 
they were busily engaged in sending away their women and 
children, it was evident they had discovered the Americans, 
and would either escape or make an attack before morning. 
While the troops were in this state of readiness, they were 
vigorously assailed on their left flank about daylight. The 
enemy were resisted with firmness, and after a severe contest, 
fled in every direction. General Coffee having been detached 
with four hundred men, to destroy the enemy's camp, with 
directions not to attack it if strongly fortified, returned with 
information that it would not be prudent to attempt it without 
artillery. The attack already made was soon discovered to be 
a feint ; and half an hour had scarcely elapsed, when the enemy 
commenced a second fierce attack on Jackson's left flank. It 
seems they had intended, by the first onset, to draw the 
Americans into a pursuit, and by that means produce confu- 
sion ; a result which was completely prevented by Jackson's 
causing his left flank to keep its position. General Coffee, 
with about fifty of his officers, acting as volunteers, now assailed 
the Indians on the left, and two hundred friendly Indians came 
upon them on the right ; while the whole line in front, after 
discharging their first fire, resolutely charged, and forced the 
enemy to fly with precipitation. On the left flank of the Indians 
the contest was kept up some time longer. As soon as possi- 
ble, a reinforcement of friendly Indians was sent to general 
Coffee, with whose aid he speedily compelled the enemy to 
retire, leaving fifty of their warriors on the ground. In this 
action general Coffee was severely wounded, and his aid, 
A. Donaldson, killed. 

Being apprehensive of another attack, general Jackson for- 
tified his camp for the night. The next day, fearing a want of 



HlSTOilY OF THE WAR. 193 



Defeats an Indian Ambuscade Indians repulsed at Camp Defiance. 

provisions, he found it necessary to retreat, and before night 
reached Enotachopco creek, having passed a dangerous defile 
without interruption. In the morning he had occasion to cross 
a second defile, where he had good reason to fear an ambus- 
cade of the enemy. Having made the most judicious arrange- 
ments for the disposition of his force in case of attack, he moved 
forward towards the pass. The advanced guard, with part of 
the flank columns and the wounded, had scarcely crossed the 
creek just named, when the alarm was given in the rear. Jackson 
immediately gave orders for his right and left columns to wheel 
on their pivots, and crossing the stream above and below, to 
assail the flanks and rear of the enemy, and thus completely 
enclose them. When, however, the word was given for these 
columns to form, and a few guns were fired, they precipitately 
gave way. This flight had well nigh proved fatal : for it drew 
along with it the greater part of the centre column, leaving not 
more than twenty-five men to maintain the ground against over- 
whelming numbers. All that could now be opposed to the 
enemy, were the few who remained of the rear guard, the artil- 
lery company, and captain Russel's company of spies. Their 
conduct, however, was admirable. Lieutenant Armstrong, with 
the utmost coolness and intrepidity, and aided by a few more, 
dragged a six-pounder to the top of a hill, although exposed to 
a heavy fire ; and having gained his position, loaded the piece 
with grape, and fired it with such effect, that after a few dis- 
charges, the enemy were repulsed. They were pursued for 
several miles by colonel Carrol, colonel Higgins, and captains 
Elliot and Pipkins. Captain Gordon, of the spies, had partly 
succeeded in turning their flank, and thus contributed greatly to 
restore the day. The Americans now continued their retreat 
without further molestation. In these different engagements, 
about twenty Americans were killed and seventy-five wounded; 
the loss of the enemy in the last engagement was about one 
hundred and eighty slain. 

Meanwhile general Floyd was again advancing towards the 
Indian territory, from the Chattahouchee river. On the 27th 
of January, at Camp Defiance, he was attacked by a large body 
of Indians, about an hour before day. They stole upon the 
sentinels, and after firing on them, rushed with great impetu- 
osity towards the main body. The action soon became gene- 
ral. The front of both flanks was closely pressed, but the 
firmness of the officers and men repelled the assaults at every 
point. As soon as it became sufficiently light, general Floyd 
strengthened his right wing and formed his cavalry in the 
rear, and then directed a charge. The enemy gave way 

R 



194 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

General Jackson gains the sanguinary Vktory of Hoyse-Shoe BenJ. 

before the bayonet, and being pursued by the cavalry, were 
many of them killed. Tlie loss of general Floyd was seven- 
teen killed and one hundred and thirty-two wounded. That of 
the Indians could not be ascertained ; although it must have 
been very considerable : thirty-seven of their v/arriors were left 
dead on the field. 

By this time, it might be supposed that the Creeks had been 
satisfied with the experiment of war ; but they appear to have 
been infatuated to a most extraordinary degree. Under the 
influence of their prophets, they were led on from one ruinous 
effort to another, in hopes that the time would at last arrive 
when their enemies would be delivered into their hands. 

General Jackson having received considerable reinforcements 
from Tennessee, and being joined by a number of friendly 
Indians, set out on an expedition to the Tallapoosa river. He 
proceeded from the Coosa on the 24th of March, and reached 
the southern extremity of the New Youca on the 27th, at a 
place called the Horse-Shoe-Bend of the Tallapoosa. Nature 
furnishes few situations so eligible for defence, and here the 
Creeks, by the direction of their prophets, had made their last 
stand. Across the neck of the peninsula formed by the curva- 
ture of the river they had erected a breast-work of the greatest 
compactness and strength, from five to eight feet high, and 
provided with a double row of port-holes, artfully arranged. In 
this place they considered themselves perfectly secure ; as the 
assailants could not approach without being exposed to a dou- 
ble and cross fire from those who lay behind the breast-works. 
The area thus enclosed was little short of one hundred acres. 
The warriors from the Oakfuskee, Oakshaya, and Hillabee 
towns, the Fish Ponds, and the Eupauta towns, were here col- 
lected, in number exceeding a thousand. 

Early in the morning of the 27th, general Jackson, having 
encamped the preceding night within six miles of the Bend, 
detached general Coffee, with the mounted men and nearly the 
whole of the friendly Indian force, to pass the river at a ford 
about three miles below the Creek encampment, and instructed 
him to surround the Bend in such a manner, that none of the 
savages should effect their escape by crossing the river. With 
the remainder of his force, he advanced to the point of land which 
led to the front of the breast-work ; and at half past ten, planted 
his artillery on a small eminence within eighty yards of the 
nearest, and two hundred and fifly of the farthest point of the 
works. A brisk cannonade was opened upon the centre ; and a 
severe fire directed with musketry and rifles, whenever the 
Indians ventured to show themselves above or outside of their 



HIS^rORY OF THE WAR. 195 

Victory of Horse SlioeBend. 

defences. In the meantime, general Coffee, having crossed 
below, had advanced towards the village. When within half a 
mile of that part which stood at the extremity of the peninsula, 
the Indians uttered their yell. Coffee, expecting an immediate 
attack, drew up his men in order of battle, and in this manner 
continued to move forward. The friendly Indians had previ- 
ously taken possession of the bank of the river, for the purpose 
of preventing the retreat of the enemy : but they no sooner 
heard the artillery of Jackson, and saw the approach of Coffee, 
than they rushed to the bank, while Coffee's militia, in conse- 
quence, were obliged to remain in order of battle. The former 
were unable to remain silent spectators : some began to fire 
across the stream, about one hundred yards wide, while others 
plunged into the river, and swimming across, brought back a 
number of canoes. In these the greater part embarked, and 
landing on the peninsula, advanced into the village, drove the 
enemy from their huts up to the fortifications, and continued 
to annoy them during the whole action. This movement of 
the Indians rendered it necessary that a part of Coffee's line 
should take their place. 

General Jackson finding that his arrangements were com- 
plete, yielded at length to the earnest solicitations of his men 
to be led to the charge. The regular troops, led by colonel 
Williams and major Montgomery, were in a moment in pos- 
session of the nearest part of the breast-works : the militia 
accompanied them with equal firmness and intrepidity. Hav- 
ing maintained for a few minutes a very obstinate contest, 
m^uzzle to muzzle, through the port-holes, in which, to use 
Jackson's own language, " many of the enemy's balls were 
welded to the American bayonets," they succeeded in gaining 
the opposite side of the works. The event could no longer be 
doubtful ; the enemy, although many of them fought with that 
kind of bravery which desperation inspires, were routed and 
cut to pieces. The whole margin of the river which surrounded 
the peninsula was strewed with the slain. Five hundred and 
fifty-seven were found dead, besides those thrown into the river 
by their friends or drowned in attempting to fly. Not more 
than fifty, it was supposed, escaped. Among the slain were 
their great prophet Manahoe, and two other prophets of less 
note. About three hundred women and children were taken 
prisoners. Jackson's loss was, twenty-six Americans killed, 
and one hundred and seven wounded ; eighteen Cherokees 
killed, and thirty-six wounded ; and five friendly Creeks killed, 
and eleven wounded. 

This most decisive victory put an end to the war with tho 



196 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Creek Wav terminated, and Peace dictated on Severe Terms. 

Creeks; and broke the spirit and power of these misguided men 
completely. The victory of Tallushatches, won by Coffee ; of 
the Tallapoosa, by Cocke ; the two victories of general Floyd, 
on the Georgia side of the Indian territory ; those of Talladega 
and Enotachopco, won by Jackson ; and the fatal battle of the 
Horse-Shoe-Bend, fought by Jackson and Coffee, may be said 
to have " cut up the war by the roots." 

Jackson soon after scoured the country on the Coosa and 
Tallapoosa rivers. A party of the enemy on the latter river, 
on his approach, fled to Pensacola. The larger portion of the 
Creeks, and among them their most able and sanguinary chief 
Weatherford, now came forward and threw themselves on the 
mercy of the victors. A detachment of militia from North and 
South Carolina, under the command of colonel Pearson, tra- 
versed the country on the Alabama, and received the submis- 
sion of a great number of Creek warriors and prophets. 

In the course of the summer a treaty of peace was dictated 
to the Creeks by general Jackson, on severe terms. They 
agreed to yield a large portion of their country as an indemnity 
for the expenses of the war ; they conceded the privilege of 
opening roads through their country, together with the liberty 
of navigating their rivers ; they engaged to establish trading 
houses, and to endeavour to bring back the nation to its former 
state ; they also stipulated to hold no intercourse with any 
British or Spanish post or garrison, and to deliver up the pro- 
perty they had taken from the whites and the friendly Indians. 
The general, on the part of the United States, undertook to 
guaranty their remaining territory to them, to restore all their 
prisoners, and, in consideration of their destitute situation, to 
furnish them gratuitously with the necessaries of life until they 
could provide for themselves. 

It was truly lamentable to contemplate the ruin of tribes 
which were making such rapid advances to civilization. Their 
villages were entirely destroyed ; and their herds, which had 
become numerous, were killed by themselves at an early pari 
of the contest. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 197 



Plans of Operations against Canada March of General Brown. 



CHAPTER XV. 



Plans of Operations against Canada proposed— General Blown marches to Sack- 
ett's Harbour — General Wilkinson retires to Plattsburg— Attacks the British at La 
Colle and is repulsed— Suspended from the command — Discouraging Difficulties in the 
Economy of the Army— Smuggling— Unsuccessful Attack by the British at Otter 
Creek— British Fleet enters Lake Champlain— Lake Ontario — Contest for Superiority 
there— Gallant Defenceof Oswego— British land at Pulteneyville— Blockade at Sack, 
ett's Harbour — Engagement at Sandy Creek and Capture of the British there — Death 
of Colonel Forsythe— of Captain Malloux, in a Skirmish — Colonel Campbell's Expe- 
dition against Dover, Canada — Affairs to the Westward — Colonel Baubee taken pri- 
soner—Gallant Defence by Captain Holmes — Serious Crisis in our Affairs — Napoleon 
overthrown— Great Britain directs her undivided Energies against the United States — 
Northern Sea Coast invaded by Commodore Hardy— Attack on Saybrook and Brock- 
way's Ferry — Engagement in Long Island Sound— Ravages at Wareham and Scitu- 
ate — Attack on Booth Bay repelled — Occupation of all the Islands in Passamaquoddy 
Bay by the British — Gallant Defence of Stonington— Territory east of the Penobscot 
River claimed and occupied by the British— Destruction of the Frigate John Adams. 

After the failure of the campaign against the British pro- 
vinces, the army remained in winter quarters, 'without the 
occurrence of any incident of much importance, until towards 
the latter end of February of the year 1814. General Wil- 
kinson had submitted several plans of attack on the different 
British posts in his vicinity, with the view of cutting off the 
communication between Upper and Lower Canada, to the 
department of war. These, however, did not meet the appro- 
bation of the secretary, who gave orders that the American 
force should be withdrawn from its present position : that 
two thousand men should march under general Brown to 
Sackett's Harbour, with a suitable proportion of field artillery 
and battering cannon ; and that the residue should fall back on 
Plattsburg. The general-in-chief, in obedience to these orders, 
destroyed his barracks and the flotilla, and retired to the place 
designated. The British, apprized of his retreat, detached 
a large force under colonel Scott, of the One hundred and third 
British regiment, against French Mills, who destroyed the 
public stores and pillaged the property of private citizens, but, 
on hearing of the approach of^an American force, retreated in 



198 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

General Wilkinson retires to Plattsburg Attacks the British at La Colle. 

the most precipitate manner. His whole party suffered much 
from a severe snow storm, besides losing upwards of two hun- 
dred men by desertion, who surrendered themselves to the Ame- 
ricans. It was about this time, that loss by desertions became 
one of the serious difficulties which the enemy had to encounter. 
The practice of permitting their soldiery to plunder in almost 
every instance, may perhaps have arisen from the necessity of 
some such indulgence as this-, in order to retain them in their 
service. 

Towards the latter end of March, general Wilkinson deter- 
mined to erect a battery at a place called Rouse's Point, where 
his engineer had discovered a position from which the enemy's 
fleet, then laid up at St. John's, might be kept in check, and 
their contemplated movement on Lake Champlain impeded or 
prevented. The breaking up of the ice on the lake at an ear- 
lier period of the season than usual, defeated his plan. A body 
of the enemy, upwards of two thousand strorig, on discovering 
his design, had been collected at La Colle mill, three miles 
below Rouse's Point, for the purpose of opposing him. With a 
view of dislodging this party, the commander-in-chief, at the head 
of about four thousand men, crossed the Canada line on the 30th 
of March. After dispersing several of the enemy's skirmishing 
parties, he reached La Colle mill, a large fortified stone house, 
situated in the centre of an open piece of ground, and de- 
fended by a strong corps of British regulars under the command 
of major Hancock. For the purpose of effecting a breach, an 
eighteen-pounder was ordered up by general Wilkinson ; but 
owing to the nature of the ground over which it had to pass, 
the transportation was found impracticable, and a twelve and a 
five-and-a-half inch howitzer were therefore substituted. These 
pieces, under the direction of captain M'Pherson, and lieute- 
nants Larabee and Sheldon, were posted at the distance of 
two hundred paces from the house, and covered by the second 
brigade: with part of colonel Clarke's command, under general 
Smith, on the right ; and the third brigade, under general Bissel, 
on the left. Colonel Miller was ordered to take a position 
with the Twelfth and Thirteenth regiments which would enable 
him to cut off the enemy's retreat ; while the reserve, composed 
of a select corps of the first brigade, was placed under the 
command of general Macomb. These arrangements being made, 
the battery opened upon the house. The fire was promptly re- 
turned ; and, owing to the unavoidable exposure of the Ameri- 
can troops, was extremely destructive. Captain M'Pherson 
was wounded at the commencement of the attack, but continued 
at his post until a second shot had broken his thigh; his next 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 199 

Wilkinson suspended from tlie Command Discouraging Dilficulties. 

officer, Larabee, was shot through the kings ; and, Heutenant 
Sheldon, who kept up the fire until the end of the affair, behaved 
in a manner which drew forth the warm praise of his general. 

The British commander, perceiving that the Americans per- 
sisted in bombarding the house, made a desperate sortie, and 
several times charged upon the cannon. He was as often 
repulsed by the covering troops, and was at last compelled to 
retire into his fortress with loss. It being now found im- 
practicable to make an impression on the unusually thick walls 
of this strong building, with such light pieces, notwithstanding 
that they were managed with great skill, the commander-in- 
chief called in his different parties, and fell back in good order. 
The loss of the Americans was upwards of one hundred and 
forty in killed and wounded ; that of the British was not ascer- 
tained. 

The unfortunate issue of this affair, together with the failure 
of the last campaign, brought general Wilkinson into dis- 
repute with the public. The administration, yielding to the 
popular voice, thought proper to suspend him from the com- 
mand, and placed the army under the charge of general Izard. 
General Wilkinson was afterwards tried, and honourably ac- 
quitted of all the charges alleged against him. One great fault 
inherent in the nature of our form of government, is a disposition 
to hasty and harsh decision respecting the conduct and charac- 
ter of public men, which no more ceases to be injustice when 
entertained by ten millions than if by ten individuals. Men 
are often ruined in public estimation, for slight causes, or for 
uncontrollable accidents ; and they are as of^en elevated to the 
highest pinnacle of celebrity, for actions which may be better 
considered as the effect of chance than the test of rr»erit. 

The most discouraging difficulties presented themselves in 
the economy, equipment and government of the American 
forces, to the very last hour of the war. The severity of the 
climate on the borders of the St. Lawrence and the lakes to 
which our tyros were exposed, and their want of the knowledge 
and experience requisite to render themselves comfortable in 
camp, were the causes of fatal diseases, which carried off a 
number greater than fell in battle ; and the proportion of sick 
and unfit for duty was at all times very great. From the want 
of that system, regularity and strictness which belong to old 
establishments, there existed at one moment a superabun- 
dance of all the necessary munitions, and at another, as great 
a scarcity. There was no end to the irregular and unforeseen 
expenses which the government was constantly called upon to 
incur. Abuses the most vexatious, and which baffled every 



200 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Smuggling Unsuccessful Attack by the British at Otter Creek. 

effort to reform, were practised in all the subordinate depart- 
ments. All this must be attributed to the true causes : our 
settled habits of peace, and the slowness with which the 
organization of military establishments must ever be effected 
under a government like ours. We had yet to learn and put 
in practice, the ceaseless and ever-varying minutia; of camp 
police. We had no regular soldiers until almost the close of 
the war ; and what school of experience had we in which to 
train and form them ? Our subalterns, at first, were generally 
men of little education of any kind, and required themselves 
the instruction which they undertook to communicate. 

To these unavoidable misfortunes, was to be superadded the 
disgraceful conduct of many of our frontier inhabitants, who 
supplied the enemy with every thing of which they stood in 
want. In spite of vigilant exertion to prevent it, a constant 
intercourse was kept up across the Canada line ; and the British 
were not only furnished with immense quantities of provisions 
without which they could not have subsisted their armies, but 
were also regularly advised of each matter of importance which 
transpired on the American side. 

Shortly after the affair of La Colle, the greater part of the 
enemy's force was collected at St. John's and Isle Aux Noix, 
for the purpose of securing the entrance of the British squad- 
ron into Lake Champlain, on the breaking up of the ice. This 
movement was effected early in May. Some time before this, 
on the suggestion of general Wilkinson, commodore M'Donough 
had fortified the mouth of Otter river by the erection of a bat- 
tery on the cape at its entrance, so as to secure a passage to the 
lake for his flotilla, which then lay at Vergennes, some miles 
higher up the river, waiting for its armament. This precau- 
tion proved of great service. The commodore had laboured 
with indefatigable industry to provide a naval force for this 
lake which might cope with that of the enemy ; and the 
first object of the British, when they found the navigation open, 
was to attempt its destruction, before it could be prepared to 
meet them. On the 12th of May, a bomb vessel and eight 
large galleys were stationed by the enemy across the river, for 
the purpose of blockading the squadron, and at the same time 
to intercept the naval supplies, required for completing its 
armament, and which it was supposed would be sent thither by 
water. Captain Thornton of the light artillery, and lieutenant 
Cassin with a number of sailors, were ordered to the defence 
of the battery ; and indications being at the same time dis- 
covered of an attempt by the enemy to assail the battery in the 
rear, general Davis, of the Vermont militia, called up part of 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 201 

British Floet enters Lake Champlain . . . Contest for Superiority on Lake Ontario. 

his brigade, in order to oppose the landing. At daybreak on 
the 14th, the enemy commenced an attack upon the works, but 
were so effectually resisted, that they were compelled to with- 
draw from their position, leaving behind them in their retreat 
two of their galleys. Commodore M'Donough had attempted 
to bring down some of the American vessels to the mouth of 
the river ; but the British squadron had disappeared before he 
could attain his object. Soon afterwards their whole squadron 
moved down into the lake, but not without some skirmishing with 
a small body of militia under general Wright, as they passed 
Burlington. 

While the naval preparations were making on Lake Cham- 
plain, the winter and spring were taken up with similar pre- 
parations for the coming contest on Lake Ontario. At Kings- 
ton, the British were building a ship of extraordinary size ; 
for they no longer trusted, as they had done with other nations, 
to superior seamanship and valour. Commodore Chauncey 
therefore was under the necessity of building an additional 
vessel, for the purpose of maintaining as nearly as possible an 
equality of force. While these vessels were in course of construc- 
tion, numerous attempts were made to destroy them, which it 
iiequired all the vigilance of each party to prevent the other from 
carrying into effect. On the 25th of April, three of the enemy's 
boats, provided with the means of blowing up the vessels, suc- 
ceeded in getting close into Sackett's Harbour ; but they were 
discovered, and fired upon by lieutenant Dudley, the officer then 
on guard, before they could execute their purpose, and compelled 
to throw their powder into the lake, in order to prevent the explo- 
sion of their own boats. Foiled in this attempt, by the vigilance 
of the Americans, they next formed the determination to intercept 
the rigging, naval stores and guns, for the new ship Superior, 
then on their way. These had been deposited at Oswego ; 
and thither sir James Yeo proceeded with his whole fleet, hav- 
iing on board a large body of troops under general Drummond, 
for the purpose of storming the fort and capturing so valuable 
a booty. The British arrived on the 5th of May, and imme- 
diately commenced a heavy bombardment of the place. The 
force at Fort Oswego consisted of three hundred men under 
the command of lieutenant-colonel Mitchell ; a number too small 
to contend with so superior a force ; and had five guns, three 
of which were almost useless, besides a shore battery of one 
twelve-pounder. The Americans no sooner perceived the 
enemy, than they sunk the schooner Growler, then in Oswego 
creek receiving the cannon, strengthened the garrison of the 
fort by the addition of the sailors of the Growler, under lieutenant 



202 BRACKENPJDGE'S 

Gallant Defetice of Oswego and Pulteneyville . .. Blockade of Sackett's Harbour. 

Pierce ; and planted all the tents that could be procured on the 
village side of the creek, in order to give the appearance of a 
large force of militia. The shore battery was commanded by 
captain Boyle, seconded by lieutenant Legate. At one o'clock, 
fifteen barges filled with troops moved towards the shore, pre- 
ceded by several gun-boats to cover the landing, while the can- 
nonade from the larger vessels was still coniinued. As soon 
as the enemy got within range of shot, they were so warmly 
received by the gun on the shore, that their boats were twice 
repulsed, one of the largest falling into the hands of the Ame- 
ricans ; and at last were compelled to retire to their shipping. 

The British squadron now stood off, but this was evidently 
for the purpose of renewing the attack in such a manner as to 
render it effectual. On the 6th, the enemy again approached, 
having resolved to land under cover of their ships. They ac- 
cordingly kept up a heavy fire for three hours, while their 
land forces, two thousand in number, under general De Watte- 
ville, succeeded in gaining the shore, afler a gallant resistance 
by lieutenant Pierce and his seamen. Colonel Mitchell now 
abandoned the fort, and joining his corps to the marines and 
seamen, engaged the enemy's front and flanks, and did great 
execution. Finding further resistance useless, he fell back, 
formed his troops, and took up his march to the Falls of Os- 
wego, thirteen miles distant, destroying the bridges in his rear. 
Hi L her t'se naval stores had already been removed, and for all the 
trouble and loss which they had sustained, the British procured 
nothing more than the cannon of the fort, a few barrels of pro- 
visions and some whiskey. These were purchased with a loss 
of two hundred and thirty-five men, in killed-and wounded. The 
loss of the Americans was sixty-nine in killed, wounded and 
missing ; among the first, a promising officer, lieutenant Blaney. 
On the morning of the 7th, the enemy evacuated the place. 

On the 15th, a part of this force proceeded to Pulteneyville, 
and demanded the public stores. The inhabitants were unable 
to repel the invaders, and the British commodore landed a party 
of sailors and marines, who indulged themselves in their usual 
depredations; when general Swift, of the New York militia, 
opportunely arriving with a part of his brigade, put them to 
flight. The enemy did not attempt to re-land, but, along with 
the other vessels of the squadron, sailed for Sackett's Harbour. 

The British fleet approached Sackett's Harbour on the 
19th; and cast anchor in such a manner as to cutoif all com- 
munication between that port and other places on the lake. The 
object of sir James Yeo was to prevent the Superior, which 
had just been launched, frc m receiving her armament and equip- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 203 

Engagement at Sandy Creek, and Capture of the British there. 

ments by water ; and consequently, when he heard that she 
had obtained them from the interior by land conveyance, he 
broke up the blockade, and returned to Kingston. 

In the meantime, some additional cannon and ordnance stores 
intended for vessels of the American fleet, had arrived at 
Oswego. Another new ship, the Mohawk, was at this time 
on the stocks, and in order to prepare her for the lake early in 
June, these supplies were indispensably necessary. Recent 
experience haxl taught the American commander to avoid the 
expense and delay of land carriage ; and it was therefore deter- 
mined, since the British fleet had disappeared, to transport 
them by water. To deceive the enemy, who had numerous 
gun-boats hovering about the different creeks, a report was 
circulated that the stores were to be forwarded to the Oneida 
Lake. Nineteen barges, then lying at Oswego Falls, were 
assigned for their conveyance, and were placed under the 
command of captain Woolsey ; and major Appling was des- 
patched by General Gaines, with a detachment to aid in their 
defence. On the 28th of May, captain Woolsey brought his 
flotilla down the creek and reached the village of Oswego by 
sunset. Finding the coast clear, he took advantage of the dark- 
ness of the night and put into the lake. The next day he 
reached Sandy Creek, and ascended it a few miles. A boat was 
now despatched to look out for the British on the lake, which 
was discovered by some of their gun-vessels and immediately 
chased. Major Appling and captain Woolsey determined to 
draw them into an ambuscade. As had. been foreseen, the 
enemy pushed their gun-boats and cutters up the creek, while 
a party of them landed and ascended along the bank. The 
Americans now suddenly rushed upon them, and in a few mo- 
ments, after one fire by which a number of them were killed 
and wounded, the whole party, consisting of four lieutenants of 
the navy, two lieutenants of marines, and one hundred and 
thirty men, were taken prisoners, and all their boats and cutters 
captured. Major Appling, for this affair, was breveted, and his 
officers, lieutenants Smith, M'Intosh, Calhoun, M'Farland and 
Armstrong, and ensign Austin, were publicly thanked. The 
conduct of captain Woolsey and his officers was not less ap- 
plauded. A party of Oneida Indians, who had joined the Ame- 
ricans in this affair and had been the first to reach the British 
after their surrender, were about to commence the mode of war- 
fare practised by the savages in the British service at the river 
Raisin, Lewistown, and Tuscarora ; but they were compelled, 
greatly to their displeasure, to desist. The barges soon after 
arrived at Sackett's Harbour in safety. 



204 BRxiCKENlUDGE'fe 

Death of Colonel Forsythe— of Captain Malioux .... Expedition against Dover. 

The consequences of this affair were severely felt by the Bri- 
tish : they lost a number of their best seamen and officers, and 
commodore Chauncey once more became master of the lake. 
He according sailed out, and several times presented himself 
before Kingston ; but sir James did not think it prudent to stir 
until his large ship of one hundred and twelve guns, then on 
the stocks, should be completed. This mode of warfare was 
exceedingly expensive to both parties, but especially so to the 
enemy : it is ascertained that their outlay was more than twice 
what was incurred by us, in consequence of the greater diffi- 
culties which attended the transportation of their supplies. 

No other event of material consequence transpired in this 
quarter, nor on Lakes Erie or Champlain, until late in the sum- 
mer. 

In a skirmish on the borders of the latter, colonel Forsythe, 
an active but eccentric partizan officer, lost his life. On the 
28th of June, he made an incursion as far as Odelltown ; and 
having attacked a party of the enemy, retreated, with the view 
of drawing them into an ambuscade. Before he had completely 
succeeded in this, however, he showed himself and his men, and 
a severe skirmish ensued. In this engagement seventeen of 
the enemy were killed ; among the number, the celebrated par- 
tizan officer captain Malioux, a Canadian, who was shot by 
lieutenant Riley. Colonel Forsythe was wounded in the neck, 
and died a few days afterwards. After his death, the command 
of his corps devolved on major Appling. 

It would be improper, also, to pass unnoticed the following 
affair. Colonel Campbell, having crossed the lake from Erie 
with about five hundred men, landed at Dover, a small village 
on the Canada side of Lake Erie, and proceeded to destroy the 
mills, together with the greater part of the private dwellings. 
This expedition was undertaken by him without orders ; and as 
his conduct in it was generally reprobated, a court of inquiry, at 
which general Scott presided, was instituted. The court deci- 
ded, that the destruction of the distilleries and mills, as they 
furnished the British troops with their necessary supplies, might 
be justified by the usages of war ; but the other part of his con- 
duct, although excused in some measure by the example of the 
enemy in laying waste and pillaging the villages on the Nia- 
gara, was condemned. The offence of colonel Campbell was 
mitigated by his humane treatment of the defenceless part of 
the inhabitants. 

To the westward, but little of moment transpired during the 
remainder of the war, as we were once more in quiet possession 
of all our territory except Michilimackinac. Early in the 



HISTORY OF THP: WAR. 205 



Affairs to the Westward Gallant Defence by Captain Holmes. 



spring, however, intelligence was received by colonel Butler 
who commanded at Detroit, that a considerable number of regu- 
lars, Indians, and militia had been collected at the river 
Thames. Captain Lee, with a party of mounted men, was 
sent to reconnoitre ; and succeeded in gaining the rear of the 
British forces unobserved, and making prisoners of several 
officers — among the rest, of colonel Baubee, who had command- 
ed a body of Indians which took part in the British depredations 
on the New York frontier. 

A gallant affair was soon after achieved by captain Holmes, 
a youth of promising talents, and brother to the governor of 
the Mississippi territory. With a party of about one hundred 
and sixty rangers and mounted men, he was despatched by 
colonel Butler, on the 21st of February, against some of the 
enemy's posts. On the 3d of March, he received intelligence, 
that a British force, then at a village fifteen miles distant, and 
which afterwards proved to be double his own, was about to 
descend the river Thames to attack him. Finding: himself 
not in a situation to give battle, from the fatigue which his 
men had already encountered and his ignorance of the number 
of the enemy's party, captain Holmes fell back a few miles, and 
chose a position, in which he was confident of being able to 
maintain himself, until he could obtain the necessary informa- 
tion. For this purpose, he despatched a small body of rangers, 
which soon returned, pursued by the enemy, but without being 
able to learn his force. The British, perceiving the strength 
of captain Holmes's position, resorted to stratagem for the pur- 
pose of drawing him from it. They feigned an attack, and then 
retreated, taking care not to show more than sixty or seventy 
men. Captain Holmes pursued, but with caution ; and after 
proceeding about five miles, discovered their main body drawn 
up to receive him. Immediately returning to his former posi- 
tion, he disposed his troops in the most judicious manner, and 
firmly waited for the enemy ; having in front a deep ravine, 
and the approaches on the other sides being somewhat difficult 
and also protected by logs hastily thrown together. The attack 
was commenced at the same moment on every point, with 
savage yells and the sound of bugles ; the regulars charging up 
the heights from the ravine, while the other sides were rapidly 
assailed by militia and Indians. The former approached within 
twenty paces of the American line, against a very destructive 
fire ; but their front section being cut to pieces, those who fol- 
lowed severely wounded, and many of their officers cut down, 
they retired to the woods, which were within thirty paces; from 
whence they continued their fire with great spirit. The Ameri- 



206 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Gallant Defence by Captain Holmes Serious Crisis in our Affairs. 

con regulars, being unsheltered, were ordered to kneel, that the 
brow ofthe height might assist in screening them from the enemy. 
On the other three sides, the attack was sustained with equal 
coolness, and with considerable loss to the foe. No charge being 
made, the Americans, behind the logs, could aim their pieces 
at leisure, with that deadly certainty which belongs to the 
backwoodsman. The British, after an hour of hard fighting, 
ordered a retreat. As the night was approaching, captain 
Holmes thought it unadvisable to pursue them : besides, his men 
were much fatigued, and many of them had nearly worn out 
their shoes on the hard frozen ground. The American loss on 
this occasion did not amount to more than six killed and 
wounded. According to the statement ofthe British, their loss 
was sixty-five in killed and wounded, besides Indians. Captain 
Holmes soon afterwards returned to Michigan territory ; and, 
in consequence of his good conduct in this affair, was promoted 
to the rank of major. 

Hitherto nothing of moment had occurred, which could have 
much influence on the final result of the war. On the ocean, 
it had been glorious for us ; on the lakes and on the frontier, 
our arms during the last year, had retrieved our former dis- 
graces ; and on the sea coast, the enemy had discovered that it 
was not an easy matter to make an impression. It is true, the 
disastrous issue of the campaign against Canada took from us all 
hope of being able to make a conquest of that province, under 
present circumstances ; but the happy termination of the Indian 
war to the westward, and its success in the south, afforded 
some consolation. An important crisis, however, had arrived 
in the general state of our affairs. The third year of the war 
found the situation of this country materially changed for the 
worse. The gloomiest periods of the revolution had scarcely 
presented a state of things more painfully discouraging. The 
distresses of the northern states, whose subsistence in a great 
measure depended upon their shipping, and ofthe people ofthe 
south, whose staples had almost ceased to be of any value ; toge- 
ther with the embarrassments of the banks in the middle states ; 
had begun, at last, to make us feel that we were at war. To a 
nation who had been for years in the most flourishing state, a 
check to the general prosperity, however it might result in ulti- 
mate good, was felt as a positive afl^iction. To the farming 
interest the effects of hostilities were rather beneficial : produce 
advanced greatly in price, and lands increased in value ; and 
the wealth of the cities, no longer employed in commerce, was 
diverted to the interior, and soon discovered itself in the im* 
provements of the lands, the erection of towns, and the estab- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 207 

Serious Crisis in our Affairs Napoleon overthrown. 

lishment of manufactures. But the number of those whom 
the war distressed or ruined, was proportionally great ; and as 
men are louder in crying out against calamities, than forward to 
exult in their good fortune, the unfavourable side of the picture 
only was exhibited. The philosopher might say, that what was 
lost to the nation by one interest, was gained in another ; but 
this reasoning could have little weight with individual sufferers. 
In several of the New England states, the complaints assumed a 
more serious aspect; and it was even insinuated, that they 
meant to secede from the union. Such an event would in- 
deed have filled every American bosom with grief, and would 
have inflicted a deeper injury on our common country than 
a thousand wars. The collisions between the state authori- 
ties and those of the union were beginning to produce all 
the embarrassments which had been predicted by Patrick 
Henry, at the formation of the constitution ; and the supposed 
existence of such misunderstandings, at the period of our utmost 
need, could not fail to weaken the hands of the administration, 
and increase the disposition of England to prosecute the war. 
The disorders in our financial system were alarming ; and it 
was confidently predicted, that, from the want of funds, the 
administration would be compelled to yield up the reins of 
government, or throw the nation upon the mercy of the enemy. 
An event had occurred in Europe, which could not be viewed 
with indifference, even on these distant shores ; and its conse- 
quences threatened us with serious danger. The ambitious 
emperor of France had been hurled from his throne, and the 
house of Bourbon restored, by the combined powers of Europe. 
This event was received by some of our fellow citizens with 
open rejoicing, as though it brought some signal good fortune 
to this country, or to the human race. To this country it could 
bring no benefit ; for it was not likely that the Bourbon king of 
France, although he might not so cordially hate or despise us, 
could, any more than Napoleon, entertain much regard lx)r a re- 
public, the contagion of whose example was said to have contrib- 
uted much to that dreadful revolution, in which his family had so 
severely suffered. Indeed it is natural that a republic like ours 
should not be viewed with much complacency by any monarch ,: 
for, to use the expression of Demosthenes, " we are considered 
as a spy upon their actions." It was a matter of indifference to 
us, whether the throne of France was occupied by an emperor or 
a king. But, as Great Britain had claimed the chief merit of 
effecting this wonderful operation, public rejoicings for the 
event wore the appearance of sympathy with the success of our 
enemies. The event was, in reality, greatly adverse to our 



208 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Great Britain directs her undivided energies against the United States. 

national interests. Fired by her success in the wars of the 
continent, and extravagantly elated by her supposed power 
and greatness, our enemy could now send her veteran troops 
and her numerous fleets to chastise America ; while our com- 
missioners in Europe were allowed to remain for months un- 
noticed. This turn of affairs, so far from affording ground for 
exultation, ought rather to have depressed the friends of liberty 
and America. Great Britain was highly incensed that we had 
not, with all due patience and meekness, continued to endure 
her numerous and flagrant outrages, until, disengaged from her 
European war, she should have leisure to cope with us on what 
she called equal terms, or, in other words, be in a condition to 
direct the undivided force of her immense army and navy against 
us. It now behoved us to think no more of invading Canada : our 
northern frontier was to be laid waste, our sea coast devastated ; 
and the utmost to be expected, was a successful self-defence. 
In the plenitude of her arrogance, Britain talked of recolonizing 
our country, and of crippling us for fifty years to come. Such 
was the situation of America at this eventful period. The time 
was approaching which would test the strength of our confede- 
ration, and our ability for defence, and, what was still more in- 
teresting, the sincerity of our attachment to political institutions, 
which, if not venerable from time, deserved the highest admi- 
ration for their justice and wisdom. 

The northern sea coast, which had thus far experienced little 
molestation from the enemy, became the object of attack early 
in the spring. On the 7th of April, a body of sailors and ma- 
rines, to the number of two hundred, ascending the Connecticut 
river, landed at Saybrook, and spiked the cannon and de- 
stroyed the shipping they found there : thence, proceeding to 
Brock way's Ferry, they did the same ; and, remaining there, 
amused themselves, unapprehensive of attack, for twenty -four 
hours. In the meantime, a body of militia, aided by a number 
of marines and sailors, under captain Jones and lieutenant Bid- 
die, from the neighbouring American squadron, had collected for 
the purpose of cutting off their retreat ; but the British, taking 
advantage of a very dark night, and using muffled oars, escaped 
safely to their fleet, having destroyed two hundred thousand 
dollars worth of shipping. 

About this time, the coasting trade was almost destroyed by 
a British privateer, the Liverpool Packet, which cruised in Long 
Island Sound. Commodore Lev/is sailed with a detachment of 
thirteen gun-boats, and succeeded in chasing her off. Proceed- 
ing to Saybrook, on his arrival there he found upwards of fifl;y 
vessels bound eastward, but afraid to venture out. The com 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 209 

Northern Sea Coast invaded by Commodore Hardy. 

modore consented to take them under convoy, without promising 
them protection against the British squadron then blockading 
New London. He sailed with them on the 25th, and in the 
afternoon of the same day, was compelled to throw himself 
between his convoy and a British frigate, a sloop of war and 
a tender, and maintain a contest until all the coasters had 
safely reached New London. Having attained this object, he 
determined to try what he could do with his gun-boats against 
the enemy's ships. Furnaces being hastily constructed, he 
began to throw hot balls at the sides of the enemy's ships, and 
repeatedly set them on fire, without receiving any injury himself. 
The sloop soon withdrew, and the fire was now principally 
directed against the frigate. One shot passed through her, 
very near the magazine ; her lieutenant, and a great number 
of her men, were already killed ; and her captain was on the 
point of surrendering, when he observed that the gun-boats had 
ceased firing. The night having closed in, and it being exces- 
sively dark, commodore Lewis had been obliged to order the 
gun-boats to desist from the attack, and to wait until morning. 
At daylight, he perceived that the enemy were towing away 
their vessels, and instantly resolved to pursue them ; but several 
other frigates soon after making their appearance, he aban- 
doned this design. This affair, together with that of Craney 
Island, revived the discussion of the utility of gun-boats in the 
defence of harbours and the coast. Great service had been 
rendered by captain Lewis, on this as well as many other occa- 
sions, by means of them. 

Formidable squadrons were maintained by the enemy before 
the ports of New York, New London, and Boston ; and the 
whole eastern coast was exposed to their ravages. The war 
was carried on here in a very different manner from that to the 
south. Commodore Hardy would not permit any wanton out- 
rages upon private property, or upon defenceless individuals. 
In spite, however, of his prohibition, there were particular in- 
stances on the part of the officers commanding smaller parties, 
in which they gave way to their insatiable thirst for plunder. 
At Wareham and Scituate, they burned all the vessels at their 
moorings ; and at the former town, they set fire to an exten- 
sive cotton manufactory : but at a place called Booth Bay, 
they met with a spirited resistance, and were repeatedly re- 
pulsed, in various desperate attacks, by the militia in the neigh- 
bourhood. 

An invasion of a more serious nature was made in July 
On the nth of that month, sir Thomas Hardy, with a strong 
force, made a descent on Moose Island, in Passamaquoddy 



210 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Britisli occupy all the Islands in Passamaquoddy Bay. 



Bay, and after taking possession of Eastport, situated on that 
island, declared all the islands and towns in the bay to ap- 
pertain to his Britannic majesty, and required the inhabitants 
to api^ear within seven days and take the oath of allegiance. 
About two-thirds of the inhabitants submitted, in the expecta- 
tion of enjoying the privileges of subjects : nevertheless, in the 
month of August, the council of the province of New Bruns- 
wick declared, that notwithstanding the oath of allegiance 
which they had taken, they should be considered as a conquered 
people, and placed under military government. Eastport was 
soon after strongly fortified, and remained in the possession of 
the British until the conclusion of the war ; but they found ex- 
treme difficulty in subsisting their troops, and desertions were 
so frequent that the officers were often compelled to perform 
the duties of sentinels. 

On the 9th of August, commodore Hardy sailed with a part of 
his squadron, for the purpose of attacking Stonington. The ap- 
pearance of this force before the town excited much alarm, which 
was not diminished when the inhabitants received a message from 
the commodore, directing them to remove the women and chil- 
dren, as he had received orders to reduce the place to ashes. 
Although with very trifling means of defence, the citizens de- 
termined to make an attempt to save their property ; having first 
complied with the terms of the commodore's note. The handful 
of militia of the place repaired to a small battery erected on the 
shore, and to a breast-work thrown up for musketry ; and at the 
same time despatched an express to obtain assistance from gene- 
ral Gushing, commanding at New London. In the evening, five 
barges and a large launch, filled with men, approached the 
shore, under cover of a heavy fire from the enemy's ships. The 
Americans, reserving their fire until the enemy were within 
short grape distance, opened two eighteen-pounders on the in- 
vaders, and soon compelled them to retire out of the reach of 
the battery. The British next endeavoured to land at the east 
side of the town, which they supposed defenceless ; but a part 
of the militia being detached thither with a six-pounder, they 
M^ere again repulsed. The enemy now retired to their ships, 
determined to renew the attack in the morning ; and in the 
meantime kept up a bombardment until midnight. The next 
morning, at dawn, one of the enemy's vessels approached within 
pistol shot of the battery, and the barges advanced in still greater 
numbers than the day before : these were again gallantly re- 
pulsed, and the vessel was driven from her anchorage. The 
squadron then renewed the bombardment of the town, but with- 
out effect; and on the 12th, the commodore thought proper to 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 211 

British occupy Maine east of the Penobscot .... Destruction of the John Adam*. 

retire. The inhabitants, after this gallant defence, which, con- 
sidering the means with which it was effected and the great 
disparity of force opposed to them, deserves much praise, once 
more occupied their dwelUngs in security. 

It was not long after this, that the British claimed all that 
part of the territory of Maine between the river Penobscot, and 
Passamaquoddy Bay. On the 1st of September, the governor 
of Nova Scotia, and admiral Griffith, entered the Penobscot, 
and seized the town of Castine, which the garrison had previ- 
ously evacuated. A proclamation was then issued, declaring 
that possession of that portion of Maine which lies east of the 
Penobscot was formally taken in the name of his Britannic 
majesty. The country, which contained about thirty thousand 
inhabitants, was then gradually occupied, and was retained until 
the termination of the war. 

A few days before the occupation of Castine, the frigate John 
Adams, captain Morris, entered the Penobscot river, after a 
successful cruise ; and having run upon the rocks near that 
port, was obliged to be hove down at Hampden, thirty -five miles 
up the river, for the purpose of being repaired. On the 3d of 
September, several of the British vessels, and ten barges, man- 
ned by about one thousand men, ascended from Castine for the 
purpose of capturing the frigate. Captain Morris, apprized of 
their approach, erected several batteries, on eminences near his 
vessel, and armed the militia. Finding, however, that there 
was no possibility of successfully resisting the enemy, he or- 
dered the greater part of his crew to retreat under lieutenant 
Wadsworth, while he himself and a few men remained, to blow 
up the ship. This they effected ; and then plunged into the 
river, and reached a place of safety by swimming. The Bri- 
tish, disappointed in this undertaking, retired to Castine. 



212 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Naval Events The President The Constitution. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Naval Events—The Plantagenet Seventy-Four declines a Contest with Commo- 
dore Rodgers— Captain Stewart chases a British Frigate of equal force— Cruise of 
Commodore Porter in the Essex— He captures twelve armed British Whale Ships — 
Arrives at the Island of Nooaheevah— Takes possession in the name of the American 
Government— His Difficulties with the Savages there— He burns the Typee Villages- 
British Abuse— Commodore Porter arrives at Valparaiso— Is attacked by the Phcebe 
and Cherub— His Desperate Resistance— Capture of the Essex and Essex Junior— 
The Peacock captures the British Brig Epervier— The Wasp captures the Reindeer— 
The Wasp sinks the Avon— Mysterious loss of the Wasp— Cruise of the President, 
the Peacock and the Hornet— The President captured by a British Squadron— The 
Constitution engages and captures the Cyane and the Levant— The Hornet, Captain 
Biddle, captures the Penguin— Exploits of Privateers— Capture of the American Pri- 
vateer Armstrong, after a dreadful Carnage of the Enemy. 

The naval incidents of eighteen hundred and fourteen, were 
as grateful to the feelings of the nation as those of the two pre- 
vious years. 

An occurrence took place in the beginning of it, which afford- 
ed much mortification to the enemy. In the month of Febru- 
ary, commodore Rodgers, on his return from a cruise in the 
President, found himself off Sandy Hook, in the neighbourhood 
of three large British ships of war, the nearest of which was 
the Plantagenet, a seventy-four. Believing that an engagement 
with one, or all of them, was unavoidable, he immediately 
cleared for action, determining not to surrender his ship without 
selling it as dearly as he could. But notwithstanding he fired 
a gun to windward as a proof of his willingness to engage, the 
British vessels did not think proper to approach, and he reached 
New York safely. Captain Lloyd, of the Plantagenet, after 
returning to England, accounted for his conduct, by alleging a 
mutiny in his ship ; and several of his sailors were executed on 
the charge. 

In the month of April, captain Stewart was on his return in 
the Constitution from a cruise, when he was chased by two 
British frigates and a brig, but escaped by superior seamanship 
into Marblehead. Some time before, after capturing the pub- 
lic schooner Pictou, he fell in with the British frigate La Pique, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 213 



Cruise of Commodore Porter in the Essex His Arrival at Nooaheevah. 



captain Maitland, which fled on the approach of the Constitu 
tion, and finally escaped during the night, after a long chase. 
Captain Maitland, on his arrival in England, was complimented 
by the board of admiralty, for thus obeying their instructions, 
in not fighting an American frigate. The enemy had become 
equally shy of the gun-boat flotilla. Commodore Lewis re- 
peatedly beat ofl* the British vessels near Sandy Hook, and 
facilitated the return of the American ships. The brig Regent, 
laden with a very valuable cargo, was chased by the Belvidera, 
when commodore Lewis, throwing himself with eleven of his 
gun-boats between them, the frigate moved off without return- 
ing the shot of the gun-boats. 

That brave and adventurous seaman, commodore Porter, of 
the Essex, terminated this year his glorious cruise in the Pacific. 
From Lima, in the neighbourhood of which he had chastised 
the pirates of the ship Nereyda, he proceeded to the Galli- 
pagos, where he cruised from April until October 1813; and 
in the course of that time captured twelve armed British whale 
ships, carrying in all one hundred and seven guns, and three 
hundred and two men. Several of these he fitted out as 
American cruisers and store ships; and one of them, the 
Atlantic, which he called the Essex Junior, he equipped with 
twenty guns and sixty men, and assigned it to lieutenant 
Downes, his first officer. Those prizes which were to be laid 
up were convoyed by this latter officer to Valparaiso. On 
his return, he brought intelligence to commodore Porter, that 
a British squadron, consisting of one frigate and two sloops of 
war, and a store ship of twenty guns, had sailed in quest of 
the Essex. The commodore, having been almost a year al 
sea, with little intermission, found it absolutely necessary that 
his ship should undergo considerable repairs. With this view, 
he steered to the island of Nooaheevah, of which he took pos- 
session in the name of the American government ; calling it 
Madison's Island, in honour of the president. Here he found 
a fine bay, and a situation in every other respect suitable to 
his wishes. The inhabitants at first were apparently friendly ; 
but it was not long before he perceived that his situation would 
be unsafe, in consequence of a war which prevailed between the 
inhabitants of a neighbouring village, and those by whom he 
had been received. The latter insisted upon his joining them 
in their wars, and threatened to drive him away if he did not. 
Compelled by a regard to his own safety, the commodore sent 
a party of sailors with the natives, who, by their assistance, 
defeated their enemies. At his instance, a peace was brought 
about between them : in return for which, the natives erected 



214 BRACKENHIDGE'S 



Commodore Porter burns the Typee Villages at Nooaheevah. 

a village for his accommodation, and freely traded with him 
for provisions ; and for some time the greatest harmony pre- 
vailed. 

His security was again menaced by the hostile conduct of 
he Typees, one of the most warlike tribes on the island, who 
were continually urging the friendly savages to destroy the 
strangers. Finding his situation growing every day more 
critical, and being very unwilling to engage in a war with them, 
the commodore sent them presents, and requested that they 
would remain quiet and be at peace. This had no other effect 
than to increase their insolence to the Americans, whom they 
represented as cowardly, or they would not have condescended 
to beg for peace. He now discovered that his safety depended 
entirely upon making these people feel his strength ; as it was 
impossible for him to leave the island until his vessel could be 
repaired, and while the greater part of his effects were actually 
on shore. He therefore set off against them at the head of 
thirty-five men, determined to give them battle, and, by showing 
the efficacy of his weapons, to compel them to a pacific course. 
The necessity for this step was great, as those tribes which had 
hitherto been friendly were on the point of breaking out into 
hostilities. But the force with which he marched, was insuffi- 
cient to make any impression on his savage enemies. Their 
country being exceedingly mountainous, and abounding in thick- 
ets, it was easy for them to escape. The commodore was, 
therefore, compelled to return from this expedition without 
achieving his object. To prevent the friendly savages from 
rising, he found it necessary to inform them, that he would 
proceed the next day with a much larger body of men. He 
now, with the greater part of his crew, marched across the 
mountains, notwithstanding the extreme difficulties of the route, 
and penetrated into the valleys of the natives. Being unable 
to come at them, as they again took refuge in their inaccessible 
fastnesses, he burnt nine of their villages, and then retreated. 
The Typees now gladly accepted terms of peace ; and all the 
tribes on the island vied with each other in friendship towards 
the whites, as long as the commodore remained. 

The destruction of the Typee villages furnished the British 
writers with occasion for the most scandalous abuse of com- 
modore Porter and the American people. The burning by an 
American officer, in self defence and for the sake of peace, of a 
few wigwams covered with palm leaves, erected merely for shelter 
from the heats or rains of the torrid zone, was to be viewed 
with horror; while the conduct of the British government in 
India, in America, and throughout the world, without any motive 



HISTORY OF TFIE WAR. 215 

He arrives at Valparaiso. 

but that of a base rapacity, was to be passed over unnoticed ! 
There is one part of commodore Porter's conduct which could not 
be approved ; and that was the taking possession of the island in 
the name of the American government. This, although it gave 
satisfaction to the natives, who regarded it as an expression of 
friendship, was toUowing the evil example of European states, 
which have usually considered themselves entitled, by the right 
of prior discovery, to territories inhabited only by uncivilized 
meur Had the Typee war ensued in consequence of this act, 
it could have found no justification. 

The Essex being completely repaired and supplied with 
provisions for four months, the commodore sailed for Valpa- 
raiso on the 12th of December, accompanied by lieutenant 
Downing with the Essex Junior, and arrived there on the 12th 
of January, 1814. He left behind him three of his prizes, 
secured under a fort which he had erected, in the charge of 
lieutenant Gamble, of the marines, with orders to proceed to 
Valparaiso after a certain time. 

It was not long after the arrival of commodore Porter at Val- 
paraiso, when commodore Hillyar appeared there in the Phoebe 
frigate, accompanied by the Cherub sloop of war. These ves- 
sels had been equipped for the purpose of meeting the Essex ; 
and carried flags bearing the motto, " God and our country, 
British sailors' best rights : traitors offend them.'''' This was 
in allusion to Porter's celebrated motto, " Free trade and sailors' 
rights." He now hoisted at his mizzen, " God, our country, 
and liberty ; tyrants offend them." 

The British vessels soon after stood out, and cruised off the 
port about six weeks, rigorously blockading the Essex. Their 
united force amounted to eighty-one guns, and five hundred 
men ; while that of the Essex and Essex Junior was only 
sixty-six guns, and three hundred and twenty men. Commo- 
dore Porter, being prevented by this great disparity of power 
from engaging, made repeated attempts to draw the Phoebe 
singly into action, as well by manoeuvring as by sending formal 
challenges ; but commodore Hillyar carefully avoided it. The 
American commander, hearing that an additional British force 
was on its way, and having discovered that his vessel could 
outsail those of the British, determined to put to sea, and by 
diverting the pursuit to himself, to enable the Essex Junior 
to escape to a place of rendezvous previously appointed. 

On the 28th of March, the wind blowing fresh from the south- 
ward, the Essex parted her starboard cable, and dragged her 
larboard anchor to sea. Not a moment was lost in getting sail 
on the ship. In endeavouring to pass to the windward of the 



216 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Commodore Porter is attacked by the Phoebe and Cherub. 

enemy, a squall struck the American vessel, just as she was 
doubling the point forming the western side of the har- 
bour, which carried away her main topmast. Both British 
ships immediately gave chase. Being unable to escape in his 
crippled state, the commodore endeavoured to put back into 
the harbour ; but finding this impracticable he ran into a small 
bay, about three quarters of a mile to the eastward of the har- 
bour, and anchored within pistol shot of the shore, where, from 
a supposition that the enemy would continue to respect the 
neutrality of the port, he thought himself secure. He soon 
found, however, by the manner in which they approached, 
that he was mistaken. With all possible despatch, therefore, 
he prepared his ship for action, and endeavoured to get a spring 
on his cable : he had not accomplished this when the enemy com- 
menced the attack, at fifty-four minutes past three, P. M. At 
first, the Pha3be placed herself on his stern, and the Cherub on 
his larboard bow ; but the latter, finding herself exposed to a hot 
fire, soon changed her position, and with her consort kept up 
a raking fire under his stern. The Americans, being unable to 
bring their broadside to bear on the enemy, were obliged to re'y 
for defence against this tremendous attack, on three long twelve- 
pounders, which they ran out of the stern ports. These wei'e 
worked with such bravery and skill, and so much injury to the 
enemy, as in half an hour to compel them to haul off and re- 
pair. It was evident that commodore Hillyar meant to risk 
nothing from the daring courage of the Americans ; all his 
manoeuvres were deliberate and wary : his antagonist was in 
his power, and his only concern was to succeed with as little 
loss to himself as possible. The situation of the Essex was 
now most deplorable : already many of the gallant crew were 
killed and wounded ; and the crippled state of their ship ren- 
dered it impracticable for them to bring her guns to bear upon 
the enemy. Still they were not disheartened : aroused to des- 
peration, they expressed their defiance to the enemy, and their 
determination to hold out to the last. 

The enemy having repaired his damages, now placed him- 
self, with both ships, on the starboard quarter of the Essex, 
where none of her guns could be brought to bear ; and the 
commodore saw no hope of injuring him but by getting under 
way, and becoming the assailant. The flying-jib was the only 
sail he had left : causing this to be hoisted and cutting his cable, he 
ran down on both ships, with the intention of laying the Phoebe on 
board. For a short time he was enabled to close with the enemy. 
Although the decks of the Essex were strewed with dead, and 
her cockpit was filled with the wounded; although she had been 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 217 

His Desperate Resistance. 

several times on fire, and was, in fact, a perfect wreck ; a feeble 
hope now arose that she might yet be saved, in consequence of 
the Cherub being so much crippled as to be compelled to haul 
off. She did not return to close action again ; but she kept up 
her fire at a distance, with her long guns. The Essex was unable 
however, to take advantage of the circumstance; as the Phoebe 
edged off, and also kept up, at a distance, a destructive fire. 
Commodore Porter, finding that the enemy had it in his power 
to choose his distance, at last gave up all hope of again coming 
to close quarters, and attempted to run his vessel on shore. 
The wind at that moment favoured the design ; but it suddenly 
changed, turning her head upon the Phoebe, and exposing her 
to a raking fire. The ship was, totally unmanageable ; but as 
she drifted with her head to the enemy, commodore Porter 
again encouraged the hope of being able to board. At this 
moment lieutenant-commandant Downes, of the Essex Junior, 
came on board to receive orders, in the expectation that his com- 
mander would soon be a prisoner. His services could be of no 
avail in the present deplorable state of the Essex; and finding, 
from the enemy's putting up his helm, that the last attempt at 
boarding would not succeed, he directed Downes to repair to 
his ship, to be prepared for defending her in case of attack, 
and, if necessary, of destroying her. 

The slaughter on board the Essex now became horrible, the 
enemy continuing to rake her, while she was unable to bring 
a single gun to bear. Still her commander refused to yield 
while aTay of hope appeared. Every expedient that a fertile 
and inventive genius could suggest was resorted to, in the for- 
lorn chance, that he might be able, by some lucky circumstance, 
to escape from the- grasp of the foe. A hawser was bent to the 
sheet anchor, and the anchor cut from the bows to bring the 
ship's head around. This succeeded, and the broadside of the 
Essex was again ^rought to bear. As the enemy was much 
crippled and unable to hold his own, it was hoped that he 
might drift out of gun-shot, before he discovered that the Es- 
sex had anchored : but alas ! this last expedient failed ; the 
hawser parted, and with it went the last lingering hope of the 
Essex. At this moment her situation was awful beyond de- 
scription. She was on fire both before and aft ; the flames were 
bursting up each hatchway ; a quantity of powder had exploded 
below ; and word was given that the fire was near her magazine. 
Thus surrounded by horrors, with no probability of maintaining 
his ship, the commodore directed his attention to saving as many 
of his gallant companions as he could ; and as the distance to the 
shore did not exceed three quarters of a mile, he hoped that 

T 



218 BRACKEiNRlDGE^S 

Capture of the Essex and Essex Junior. 

many of them would make their escape before the ship blew up. 
The boats had been destroyed by the enemy's shot : he there- 
fore ordered such as could swim to jump overboard and en- 
deavour to gain the land. Some reached it, some were taken by 
the enemy, and some perished in the attempt ; but the greater 
part of his generous crew resolved to stay by the ship, and 
share the fate of their commander. 

They now laboured to extinguish the flames, and succeeded. 
After this, they again repaired to their guns, but their strength 
had become so much exhausted, that an effort at further resis- 
tance was vain. Commodore Porter then summoned a consulta- 
tion of the officers ; but was surprised to find only one acting 
lieutenant, Stephen Decatur M'Knight, remaining. The ac- 
counts from every part of the ship were deplorable indeed : she 
was in imminent danger of sinking, and so crowded with the 
wounded, that the cockpit, the steerage, the wardroom and 
the birth deck could hold no more. In the meantime the 
enemy, at a secure distance, continued his fire ; and the water 
having become smooth, he struck the hull of the Essex at every 
shot. At last, despairing of saving his ship, the commodore 
was compelled, at twenty minutes past six P. M., to give the 
painful orders to strike the colours. The enemy, not seeing 
probably that this had taken place, continued to fire for ten 
minutes after ; and Porter, under a belief that they intended to 
give no quarter, was about to direct the colours to be again 
hoisted, when the firing ceased. The loss on board the 
Essex was fifty-eight killed, thirty-nine wounded severely, 
twenty-seven slightly, and thirty-one missing. The loss of 
the British was five killed, and ten wounded. Their vessels 
were both much cut up in their hulls and rigging ; and the Phoebe 
could scarcely be kept afloat until she anchored in the port of 
Valparaiso next morning. Thus terminated one of the most 
desperate naval combats on record. 

Commodore Porter was permitted, on his parol, to return to 
the United States in the Essex Junior, which was converted 
into a cartel for the purpose. On arriving off the port of New 
York, he was brought to and detained by the Saturn razee ; and, 
to the disgrace of the British arms, compelled to give up his 
parol, and delared a prisoner of war. The Essex Junior was 
ordered to remain under the lee of the Saturn. Commodore 
Porter now determined to attempt his escape, though thirty 
miles from shore. Manning a boat with a sufficient crew, he put 
off; and notwithstanding that he was pursued from the Saturn, 
he arrived safely in New York. His countrymen received him 
with open arms ; and the most unbounded demonstrations of 



II1S1X3RY OF THE VVAK. 219 

The Peacock captures the Britisli Brig Epervier. 

joy prevailed wherever he appeared. Certainly his services to 
his country justly claimed its gratitude and esteenn. 

Perhaps a more dreadful example of determined, unconquer- 
able courage than the unsuccessful defence of the Essex was 
never exhibited : to an American, no victory could afford more 
grateful and proud recollections. It was pleasing to see the 
spontaneous expression of human feeling in favour of the weak, 
when contending against superior force. Thousands of the 
inhabitants of Valparaiso covered the neighbouring heights, as 
spectators of the conflict. Touched with the forlorn situation 
of the Essex, and filled with admiration at the unflagging spirit 
and persevering bravery of her commander and crew, a gene- 
rous anxiety animated the multitude for their fate. Bursts of 
delight arose when, by any vicissitude of battle or prompt ex- 
pedient, a change seemed to be taking place in their favour, • 
and the eager spectators were seen to wring their hands and to 
utter groans of sympathy, when the transient hope was de- 
feated. 

During the third year of the war, every naval combat, without 
a single exception, where there was any thing like equality of 
force, terminated in favour of the Americans. The sloop of 
war Peacock, captain Warrington, launched in October 1813, 
performed a cruise during the winter, and on her return, was 
chased into St. Mary's. She soon afler put to sea again, and 
on the 29th of April discovered the British brig of war Epervier, 
captain Wales, with several vessels under convoy which im- 
mediately made sail on her approach. An engagement between 
the two vessels of war followed soon afterwards. At the first 
broadside, the foreyard of the Peacock was totally disabled by 
two round shot in the starboard quarter. By this, she was 
deprived of the use of her fore and foretop sails, and was obliged 
to keep aloof during the remainder of the action, which lasted 
forty-two minutes. In this time, she received considerable 
damage in her rigging, but her hull was not at all injured. 
The Epervier struck with five feet water in her hold, her top- 
mast over the side, her main boom shot away, her foremast 
cut nearly in two, her fore rigging and stays shot away, and 
her hull pierced by forty-five shot, twenty of which were within 
a foot of her water line. Of her crew eleven were killed, and 
her first lieutenant and fourteen men wounded. She was im- 
mediately taken possession of by Lieutenant Nicholson, first 
officer of the Peacock, who, with lieutenant Voorhees of the 
same ship, had been already distinguished in another naval 
action. The sum of one hundred and eighteen thousand dollars, 
in specie, was found in her, and transferred to the PeacxDck. 



220 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



The Wasp captures the Reindeer Sinks the Avon. 

Captain Warrington immediately set sail, with his prize, for 
one of the southern ports. The day following, the captain dis- 
covered two frigates in chase. At the suggestion of lieutenant 
Nicholson, he took all the prisoners on board the Peacock ; and 
leaving only sixteen men on board the Epervier, directed her 
to seek the nearest port. By skilful seamanship the captain 
succeeded in escaping from the enemy's ships, and reaching 
Savannah. Here he found his prize ; lieutenant Nicholson 
having brought her in, after beating off a launch well manned 
and armed, which had been despatched from the frigates to 
overtake him. 

Captain Blakely, of the new sloop of war the Wasp, saileo 
from Portsmouth on the 1st of May. After seizing seven mer 
chantmen, on the 6th of July, while in chase of two other vessels 
he fell in with the British brig of war Reindeer, captain Manners, 
and immediately altered his course, and hauled by the wind, 
in chase of her. At fifteen minutes past one P. M., he prepared 
for action ; but it was two hours later, in consequence of theit 
manoeuvring and the endeavours of the Reindeer to escape, ere 
he approached sufficiently near to engage. Several guns were 
fired from the W^asp before her antagonist could bring her guns 
to bear ; and the helm of the latter was therefore put a-lee. At 
fealf past three, captain Blakely commenced the action with his 
after carronades on the starboard side. Shortly afterwards, the 
larboard bow of the Reindeer being in contact with the Wasp, 
captain Manners gave orders to board. The attempt was gal- 
lantly repulsed by the crew of the Wasp, and the enemy several 
times beaten off. At forty-four minutes past three, orders were 
given to board in turn. Throwing themselves with prompti- 
tude upon the deck of the enemy^s ship, the boarders succeeded 
in the execution of their orders ; and at forty-five minutes past 
three, her flag came down. She was almost cut to pieces, and 
half her crew were either killed or wounded. The loss of the 
Wasp was five killed and twenty-one wounded : among the 
ktter, midshipmen Langdon and Toscan ; both of whom expired 
some days after. The Reindeer having been found altogether 
unmanageable, was blown up ; and captain Blakely steered for 
L'Orient, to provide for the wounded of both crews. 

After leaving L'Orient, and capturing two valuable British 
merchantmcnt, captain Blakely fell in with a fleet of ten sail, 
under convoy of the Armada seventy-four, and a bomb-ship. 
He stood for them, and succeeded in cutting oui of the squad- 
ron a brig laden with brass and iron cannon, and military stores, 
from Gibraltar. After taking out the prisoners and setting her 
on firo, he endeavourod to cut out another, but v^as chased off by 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 2^1 



Mysterious Loss of the Wasp Cruise of the President, Peacock, and Hornet. 

vhe seventy- four. In the evening, at half past six, he descried 
two vessels, one on his starboard and one on his larboard bow, 
and hauled for that which was farthest to windward. At seven, 
she was discovered to be a brig of war, making signals with 
flags which could not be distinguished owing to the darkness, 
and at twenty-nine minutes past nine she was under the lee 
bow of the Wasp. An action soon after commenced, which 
lasted until ten o'clock, when captain Blakely, finding his 
antagonist to have ceased firing, paused and asked if he had 
surrendered. No answer being returned, he commenced firing 
again ; and the enemy returned broadside for broadside for twelve 
minutes. Perceiving that his two last broadsides were not 
returned, he hailed again, and was informed that she was sink- 
ing, and that her colours were struck. Before the boats of the 
Wasp could be lowered, a second brig of war was discovered : 
the crew were instantly sent to their quarters, and preparations 
made for another engagement, when two other brigs appeared. 
He now made sail, and endeavoured to draw the brig first dis- 
covered afi;er him, but without effect. The name of the prize 
was subsequently discovered to have been the Avon, captain 
Arbuthnot ; of the same force as the Reindeer. She sunk, im- 
mediately after the last man had been taken out of her into 
one of the vessels which had come in sight. She had eight 
killed, and thirty-one wounded, including her captain and seve- 
ral other officers. 

The Wasp soon repaired the damages received in this en- 
gagement, and continued her cruise. On the 21st of Septem- 
ber, she captured, off* the Madeiras, her thirteenth prize, the 
British brig Atalanta, of eight guns, and the only one which 
she sent into port. The return of this vessel, after her brilliant 
cruise, was for a long time fondly, but unavailingly, looked for 
by our country. There is little doubt that the brave commander 
and his gallant crew found a common grave in the waves of the 
ocean : they will always live -in the gratitude and recollection 
of their country. 

The blockade of commodore Decatur's squadron at New 
London having been maintained until after the season had 
passed in which there existed any prospect of escape, the ships 
of which it was composed were ordered up the river and dis- 
mantled, while the commodore, with his crew, was transferred 
to the frigate President, then at New York. A cruise was 
projected for a squadron to consist of the President, the sloops 
of war Peacock and Hornet, and the Tom Bowline store ship, 
under the command of commodore Decatur. As the enemy 
still blockaded New York, the commodore thought it safer for 



222 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



The President captured by a British Squadron. 



the President to venture out singly ; and after ordering the other 
vessels to follow, and appointing a place of rendezvous, he sailed. 
In consequence of the negligence of the pilot, the President 
struck upon the bar, and remained there thumping for two hours, 
by which her ballast was deranged and her trim for sailing 
entirely lost. The course of the wind preventing his return 
into port, he put to sea, trusting to the excellence of the vessel. 
At daylight he fell in with a British squadron, consisting of the 
Endymion, Tenedos and Pomona frigates, and the Majestic 
razee. In spite of his exertions they gained upon him ; and 
the foremost, the Endymion, getting close under his quarters 
commenced firing. The commodore determined to bear up and 
engage her, v/ith the intention of carrying her by boarding, 
and afterwards of escaping in her and abandoning his own 
ship. In this he was prevented by the manoeuvring of the 
enemy. The engagement was protracted for two hours, and 
ended in reducing the Endymion almost to a wreck, and killing 
or wounding a large proportion of her crew. The President 
was also considerably damaged, and lost twenty-five men in 
killed and wounded : among the former, lieutenants Babbit and 
Hamilton, and acting lieutenant Howell; among the latter, mid- 
shipman Dale, who afterwards died, and the commodore himself. 
The squadron was now fast approaching, and the gallant com- 
modore, unwilling to sacrifice the lives of his men in a useless 
contest, on receiving the fire of the nearest frigate, surrendered. 
He was taken on board the Endymion, for the purpose of acting 
the miserable farce of surrendering his sword to the officer of a 
frigate which would have fallen into his hands, but for the 
approach of an overwhelming force. The President was sent 
to England ; and in order to satisfy the good people there that 
she was a seventy-four in disguise, she was lightened, and laid 
in dock alongside of an old seventy-four, which had been dimin- 
ished to appearance by being deeply laden. 

Not the least among the exploits of our naval heroes, was 
the capture of two of the enemy's ships of war by the Consti- 
tution, captain Stewart. Having sailed from Boston, on the 
17th of December, 1814, on a cruise, he discovered, on the 
20th of February, 1815, two ships; one of which bore up for 
the Constitution, but soon after changed her course to join her 
consort. The Constitution gave chase to both, and at six P. M. 
ranged ahead of the sternmost, brought her on the quarter and 
her consort on the bow, and opened a broadside. The fire was 
immediately returned ; and exchanges of broadsides coptinued 
until both ships were enveloped in smoke. When it cleai'ed 
away, the Constitution finding herself abreast of the head- 



i 



:mmHvsm mjmm 




BATTLE OP^ THE CONSTITUTION WITH THE CYANE AND LEVANT. 
COMiMODORE STEWART. 




BOMBARDMENT OF FORT M'HENRY MAJOR ARMISTEAD. 

See Paffe27L 



003 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 225 

The Constitution engages and captures the Cyane and Levant. 

most ship, captain Stewart ordered both sides to be manned, 
backed topsails, and dropped into his first position. The ship 
on the bow backed sails also. The Constitution's broadsides 
were then fired from the larboard battery ; and in a few mo- 
ments the ship on the bow, perceiving her error in getting 
sternboard, filled away with the intention of tacking athwart the 
bows of the Constitution. Meanwhile the ship on the stern fell 
off entirely unmanageable. The Constitution now pursued the 
former, and coming within a hundred yards, gave her several 
raking broadsides, and so crippled her that no further apprehen- 
sions were entertained of her being able to escape. The cap- 
tain then returned to the latter, from which a gun was fired to 
leeward, to signify that she had surrendered ; and took pos- 
session, by lieutenant Hoffman, of the frigate Cyane, captain 
Gordon Falkon, of thirty-four carronade guns. Captain Stew- 
art now steered in pursuit of the other vessel ; and afler a short 
resistance, in which she suffered considerably, she struck, with 
five feet water in her hold. She proved to be the sloop of war 
Levant, captain Douglass, of eighteen thirty-two-pound carron- 
ades. The loss on board the two ships amounted to about eighty 
in killed and wounded ; of the crew of the Constitution there 
were only four killed and eleven wounded ; and the ship re- 
ceived but a very trifling injury. On the 10th of March, captain 
Stewart entered the harbour of Praya, in the island of St. Jago, 
with his prizes; and on the 11th, a British squadron of two 
ships, of sixty guns each, and a frigate, appeared off the entrance 
of the harbour. Captain Stewart, having no faith in his secu- 
rity, although in a neutral port, made sail v^uth one of his prizes, 
the Cyane, and though closely pursued, had the good fortune 
to escape with it into the United States. The Levant was 
recaptured in the Portuguese harbour, in contempt of the neu- 
trality of the port and of the laws of nations. 

The Peacock, Hornet, and Tom Bowline lefl New York a 
few days after the President, not knowing of her capture. On 
the 23d of January, 1815, the Hornet, captain Biddle, parted 
company, and directed her course to Tristan d'Acunha, the 
place of rendezvous. On the 23d of March, she descried the 
British brig Penguin, captain Dickenson, of eighteen guns and 
a twelve-pound-carronade, to the southward and eastward of 
that island. Captain Biddle hove to, while the Penguin bore 
down. At forty minutes past one P. M., the British vessel com- 
menced the engagement. The firing was hotly kept up for fifleen 
minutes, the Penguin gradually nearing the Hornet, with the 
intention of boarding. Her captain was killed by a grape-shot 
before he saw his orders executed ; and her lieutenant, on whom 



226 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



The Hornet, Captain Biddle, captures the Penguin. 



the command of the Pengum then devolved, bore her up, and 
running her bowsprit between the main and mizzen rigging of 
the Hornet, directed his crew to board. His men, however, 
perceiving the boarders of the Hornet not only ready to receive 
them, but waiting for orders to spring on the Penguin's deck, 
refused to follow him. At this moment the heavy swell of the 
sea lifted the Hornet ahead, and the enemy's bowsprit carried 
away her mizzen shrouds and spanker boom ; while the Penguin 
hung upon the Hornet's quarter deck, with the loss of her 
foremast and bowsprit. Her commander then cried out that 
he surrendered. Captain Biddle had ordered his men to cease 
firing, when a man in the enemy's shrouds was discovered 
taking aim at him, by an officer of the Hornet, who called to him 
to avoid the fire. Scarcely had he changed his position, when 
a musket ball struck him in the neck, and wounded him severely. 
Two marines immediately levelled their pieces at the wretch, 
and killed him before he brought his gun from his shoulder. 
The Penguin had by that time got clear of the Hornet, and the 
latter wore round to give the enemy a broadside, when they a 
second time cried out that they had surrendered. It was with 
the greatest difficulty that captain Biddle could restrain his 
crew from discharging the broadside, so exasperated were they 
at the conduct of the enemy. In twenty-two minutes after the 
commencement of the action, the Penguin was taken possession 
of by lieutenant Mayo, of the Hornet. She was so much 
injured, that captain Biddle determined on taking out her crew, 
and scuttling her. He afterwards sent off his prisoners to St. 
Salvador, by the Tom Bowline ; by which vessel, and the Pea- 
cock, he had been joined on the 25th of the month. The 
enemy lost fourteen in killed, and had twenty-eight wounded: 
the Hornet one killed, and eleven wounded ; among the latter, 
her lieutenant, Conner, dangerously. 

Captain Biddle was compelled to part from the Peacock by 
the appearance of a British ship of the line, and, after being 
closely chased for several days, effected his escape into St. 
Salvador, by throwing all his guns but one, and every heavy 
article, overboard. The news of peace soon after arrived there. 
The capture of the Cyane, the Levant, and the Penguin took 
place before the expiration of the time specified by the second 
article of the treaty. 

The exploits of the privateers continued to rival those of 
our national vessels. In one instance the enemy was compelled 
to pay dearly for his disregard of the sanctuary of a neutral 
port. The privateer Armstrong lay at anchor in the harbour 
of Fayal, when a British squadron, consisting of the Carnation, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 227 



Exploits of Privateers Capture of the American Privateer Armstrong. 

the Plantagenet and the Rota, hove in sight. Captain Reid, of 
the privateer, discovering by the light of the moon that the 
enemy had put out their boats and were preparing to attack 
him, cleared for action, and moved near the shore. Four boats 
filled with men were seen approaching. On being hailed and 
making no answer, a lire was opened upon them from the ship, 
which soon compelled them to haul off. Captain Reid now 
prepared for a more formidable attack ; and anchored the 
privateer a cable's length from the shore, and within pistol shot 
of the castle. The next day the enemy sent a fleet of boats, 
supported by the Carnation, which stood before the harbour, 
to prevent the escape of the privateer. At midnight the boats 
approached a second time, to the number of twelve or fourteen, 
and manned by several hundred men. They were suffered to 
come alongside of the privateer, when they were assailed with 
such tremendous fury, that in forty minutes scarcely a man of 
them was left alive. During these attacks the shores were lined 
with the inhabitants, who, from the brightness of the moon, 
had a full view of the scene. The governor, with the first 
people of the place, stood by and saw the whole affair. After 
the second attack, the governor sent a note to the commander 
of the Plantagenet, captain Lloyd, requesting him to desist : 
to which the captain replied, that he was determined to have 
the privateer at the risk of knocking down the town. The 
American consul having communicated this information to cap- 
tain Reid, he ordered his crew to save their effects, and carry 
the dead and wounded on shore as fast as possible. At day- 
light the Carnation stood close to the Armstrong, and com- 
menced a heavy fire ; but being considerably cut up by the 
privateer, she hauled off to repair. On her re-appearance, 
captain Reid, thinking it useless to protract the contest, scuttled 
his vessel and escaped to land. The British loss amounted 
to the astonishing number of one hundred and twenty killed, 
and one hundred and thirty wounded : that of the Americans 
was only two killed, and seven wounded. Several houses in 
the town were destroyed, and some of the inhabitants hurt. 



228 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Plan of Campaign on the Canada Frontier. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Plan of Campaign on the Canada Frontier — General Brown collects an Army at 
Black Rock and Buffalo— Captures Fort Erie — Battle of Chippewa — Gallantry of Ma- 
jor Jesup — British retreat— American Anny advances— Death of General Swift — 
Movement on Fort George— General Brown retreats to the Chippewa — Battle of Ni- 
agara-General Riall taken Prisoner— Colonel Jesup— Colonel Miller—" I will try, 
sir"— British Cannon charged upon and taken— Desperate Efforts of the British to 
regain their Cannon— Generals Scott and Brown wounded — British recover their 
Cannon— Both Armies retire from the Field— British advance again the following 
Morning— Americans retreat to Fort Erie— Defences of Fort Erie enlarged and ex- 
tended—Siege of Fort Erie— Projected Attack on Buffalo repulsed— General Gainea 
assumes the Command at Fort Erie— Assault on Fort Erie— Death of Colonel Drum- 
niond— Tremendous Explosion— The Besiegers driven back to their Works— Renewal 
of the Cannonade— Sortie from Fort Erie— Destruction of the Enemy's Works— Bri- 
tish raise the Siege and retreat to Fort George — Arrival of General Izard at Fort 
Erie — Americans advance along the Niagara— Engagement at Lyon's Creek— De- 
struction of Fort Erie by the Americans— Evacuation of Upper Canada— Close of 
the Third Invasion of Canada — Important Results of the Campaign — Affairs of the 
West— Unsuccessful Expedition against Michilimackinac— Capture of two American 
Schooners — General M'Arthur's Expedition into Canada. 

From reviewing the events of the war on the ocean, we re- 
turn to the war on the northern frontier. Not to be without a 
plan of campaign, although experience had already shown how 
small a portion of plans formed in the cabinet, and depending 
upon so many contingencies not susceptible of calculation, 
could be carried into execution, the following was adopted. 
Colonel Croghan, with the assistance of commodore Sinclair, 
was to proceed against the British on the upper lakes, with a 
view of recovering the American posts of Michilimackinac and 
St. Joseph. An army, under general Brown, now raised to the 
rank of major-general, was to cross the Niagara and take posses- 
sion of Burlington Heights ; and afterwards, in conjunction with 
commodore Chauncey, to attack the British posts on the penin- 
sula. General Izard, commanding the Northern Army, was to 
push a number of armed boats into the St. Lawrence, so as to 
command the Rapids, and cut off the communication between 
Montreal and Kingston. Batteries were also to be thrown up for 
the purpose of protecting the American fleet on Lake Cham- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 229 



General Brown collects an Army Captures Fort Erie. 

plain, and to prevent that of the British from entering it. The 
greater part of these arrangements were controlled by unfore- 
seen circumstances. 

The spring passed away before general Brown was in a 
situation to attempt any thing against the British posts on the 
opposite side of the river; even Fort Niagara, on this side, still 
remained in their hands. He had, however, been assiduously 
occupied, with his gallant officers general Scott and general 
Ripley, in collecting and disciplining a force in the neighbour- 
hood of Black Rock and Bufialo. By the beginning of July, 
this consisted of two brigades of regulars, the tirst commanded 
by brigadier-general Scott, and the second by brigadier-general 
Ripley ; and a brigade of volunteers, with a few Indians, under 
generals Porter and Swift. In the meantime, the force of the 
enemy, under lieutenant-general Drummond, had been greatly 
increased, by the addition of a number of veteran regiments, 
which, since the pacification of Europe, Great Britain had been 
enabled to send to Canada. 

The first step to be taken, with a view to any future opera- 
tions against Canada, and to recover the possession of Fort 
Niagara, was the capture of Fort Erie ; for if the Americans 
were possessed of this post, it was supposed that the enemy would 
evacuate the American side of the frontier, and besides, that this 
garrison could be carried with more ease than the other, from 
the circumstance of an attack being less expected. Fort Erie 
was at that time commanded by captain Buck, with aoout one 
hundred and seventy men. The two brigades of regulars, in 
obedience to general Brown's orders, embarked on the morning 
of the 3d of July. General Scott, with the first, and a detach- 
ment of artillery under major Hindman, crossed to the Canada 
shore, about a mile below Fort Erie, and general Ripley, with the 
second brigade, at about the same distance above ; while a party 
of Indians, who had also crossed over, got into the woods in the 
rear of the fort. The garrison, being taken by surprise, and 
surrounded before the movements of the assailants were dis- 
covered, was compelled to surrender after firing a few shot. 
Immediate possession was taken of the fort, and the prisoners 
were marched into the interior of New York. 

General Brown next resolved to proceed immediately and 
attack major-general Riall, who, with a division of British 
regulars, occupied an intrenched camp at Chippewa ; arrange- 
ments having first been made for the defence of the fort, and 
for protecting the rear of the army. 

On the morning of the 4th, general Scott advanced with his 
brigade and captain Towson's artillery ; and was followed in 
u 



230 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Battle of Chippewa. 

the course of the day by general Ripley, and the field and 
park artillery under major Hindman, together with general 
Porter's volunteers. The army was then drawn up in regular 
order on the right bank of Street's creek, within two miles of 
the British camp. In approaching to this post, the first bri- 
gade had encountered the advance corps of the enemy, which 
retreated, after destroying the bridge over the creek. Captain 
Crooker, who had been directed to liank them on the left, had 
in the meantime crossed the stream at a point some distance 
above the bridge, and had come up with the enemy while the 
American brigade was still on the right bank of the creek. The 
British now turned upon and surrounded him ; but he defended 
himself in so gallant a manner, that he was enabled to keep 
them off*, until captains Hull and Harrison, and lieutenant Ran- 
dolph, with a small party of men who had been hastily thrown 
across the stream, came to his relief. 

The army remained in this position until the next day, 
when, early in the morning, the British commenced attacks 
upon the picket guards surrounding it. One of these, com- 
manded by captain Treat, was suddenly fired upon by a party 
concealed in some high grass ; one man fell, and the rear broke 
and retreated. The exertions of the captain to rally them were 
mistaken for cowardice, and he was stripped of his command. 
Being resolved to do away the imputation, he requested to en- 
gage in the approaching battle as a volunteer, and was accord- 
ingly directed to lead a platoon of the same company which 
he had just commanded in action. He was afterwards tried 
and honourably acquitted. These assaults continued through- 
out the greater part of the day. General Riall, perceiving that 
an engagement was unavoidable, now resolved to strike the 
first blow ; he therefore issued from his encampment with his 
whole force, and, crossing the Chippewa creek, soon appeared 
with the main body on the left bank of Street's creek. He had 
previously sent a considerable body of troops into a wood on 
the left of the American camp, for the purpose of turning their 
flank. The movement in the wood was discovered early 
enough to frustrate it ; and general Porter, with the volunteers 
and Indians, after a sharp conflict, compelled the enemy's right 
to retire. While in pursuit of it on the Chippewa road, he came 
suddenly in contact with the main body of the British. The 
volunteers were now severely pressed by troops greatly supe- 
rior in numbers and discipline. General Brown, perceiving 
this, ordered Scott's brigade and Towson's artillery to advance, 
and draw the enemy into action on the plains of Chippewa 
This was effected immediately on crossing the bridge. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 231 



Battle of Chippewa Gallantry of Major Jesup. 



The first battalion, under major Leavenworth, took a position 
on the right ; and the second was led to its station by colonel 
Campbell, who, on being wounded shortly afterwards, was 
succeeded by major M'Neill. Major Jesup, a gallant young 
officer, who commanded the third battalion, which was formed 
on the lell, resting in a wood, was ordered to turn the right 
flank of the British, then steadily advancing upon the Anierican 
line. Whilst warmly engaged in this service, he was com- 
pelled to detach captain Ketchum, to attack some troops 
coming up to the assistance of the body with which the third 
battalion was engaged. The major, having cleared his front, 
moved to the relief of his captain, who had maintained an un- 
equal contest against superior numbers. He had not accom- 
plished this until after a severe struggle : being closely pressed 
in front and flank, and his men falling in numbers around him, 
he had deliberately given orders to advance, under a dreadful fire ; 
until, gaining a position of more security, he compelled the 
enemy to retire, and came up in time to co-operate with captain 
Ketchum's detachment. The admirable coolness and intrepi- 
dity of his corps were worthy of veterans, and proved the great 
progress the Americans had made in discipline. The battalion 
on the American right, under major Leavenworth, was not only 
engaged with the British infantry, but often exposed to the fire 
of their batteries. One of its officers, captain Harrison, had 
his leg shot off' by a cannon ball ; but so doubtful did he con- 
sider the contest, that he would not suffer a man to be taken 
from his duty to bear him from the field, and supported the 
torture of his wound until the action ceased. After the lapse 
of an hour from the time the action became general, captain 
Towson having completely silenced the enemy's most power- 
ful battery, now turned upon their infantry at that moment ad- 
vancing to a charge. The fire from Towson's artillery, which 
poured upon them ; the oblique discharges of a part of M'NeilPs 
battalion, which was so posted as to assail both in front and 
flank ; the steadiness of the two battalions ; and the apparent 
issue of the contest on his right flank with major Jesup, com- 
pelled general Riall to retire, until he reached the sloping 
ground which led to Chippewa. From this point the British 
fled in confusion to their intrenchments, which were too strong 
to be assailed. 

In this engagement general Ripley's brigade was not con- 
cerned. He had proposed to the commander-in-chief, at the 
commencement of the action, to take a position to the left of 
the first brigade, and passing it, to turn the enemy's right, and 
prevent his retreat to Chippewa. At that time general Brown 



232 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

British retreat to Ten Mile Creek American Armjf advances. 

declined his proposal ; but afterwards, when the British began 
to retire, he directed him to put his plan in execution. The 
precipitation of their movements however frustrated it. 

The result of this first regular pitched battle furnished convin- 
cing proof, that nothing but discipline was wanting to give to our 
soldiers on land the same excellence which our seamen had 
discovered on the ocean. The battle was fought with great 
judgment and coolness on both sides, and its result, considering 
the numbers engaged, was exceedingly sanguinary. The loss 
of the Americans in kilW, wounded and missing, amounted to 
three hundred and thirty-eight. Among the wounded were, 
colonel Campbell ; captains King, of the Twenty-third, Read, 
of the Twenty-fifth, Harrison, of the Forty-second; lieutenants 
Palmer and Brimhall, of the Ninth, Barron, of the Eleventh, 
and De Wit and Patchim, of the Twenty-fifth. The total loss 
of the British, according to the report of general Drummond, 
was five hundred and five, of whom forty -six were missing, and 
the remainder either killed or wounded. Among the wounded 
were, seven captains, seventeen lieutenants, captain Holland aid 
to general Riall, lieutenant-colonel the marquis of Tweeddale 
and lieutenants-colonel Gordon and Dickson. Few occurren- 
ces during the war afforded a more lively gratification to the 
people. The most honourable testimonials of approbation 
"were bestowed upon the principal officers concerned : the 
brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel was conferred upon majors 
Jesup, Leavenworth and M'Neill ; and of major on captains 
Towson, Crooker and Harrison. Several other officers were 
named as having distinguished themselves ; among these, major 
Wood of the engineers, captain Harris of the dragoons, and 
lieutenant M'Donald, acquitted themselves with much credit. 

The defeat of Riall having been communicated to lieutenant 
general Drummond, he sent a regiment to reinforce him, and 
enable him to repel any attack upon his works. General 
Brown meanwhile remained at his encampment, determined to 
dislodge the British. As the most effectual mode, he detached 
general Ripley, on the 8th of the month, to a point three miles 
above the enemy's camp, to open a road to the Chippewa 
river, and to construct a bridge over it for the passage of the 
troops. This order was executed with so much secrecy, thai; 
the bridge was nearly completed before it was discovered by 
the enemy. General Riall now ordered his artillery to advance 
and prevent the Americans from completing their works ; but 
the cannon of general Ripley compelled the British to retire. 
Fearing an attack on his right flank and in front, general 
Kiall soon after abandoned his works, which were occupied by 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 233 



Death of General Swift General Brown retreats to the Chippewa. 



general Brown that evening; and fell back on Queenstown. 
On the Ibllowing day he retired to Ten Mile creek. 

The American armj, moving forward, encamped at Queens- 
town. General Swift, at his own request, was now detached 
with one hundred and twenty men, to reconnoitre the enemy's 
works at Fort George. On his arrival in the neighbourhood, he 
surprised an outpost, and took prisoners a corporal and his guard. 
One of these, after having asked and received quarter, suddenly 
raised his piece, and wounded Swift mortally. The general 
instantly killed the assassin ; and on the approach of a party of 
the enemy brought up by the firing of the soldier, he continued, 
regardless of his wound, to fight at the head of his detachment 
until the enemy was repulsed. This gallant officer died soon 
after he was brought to camp, and was interred with all the 
honours the army could bestow. He had been a distinguished 
soldier of the revolution ; and his loss was sincerely regretted. 

The question as to the step next to be taken — whether to 
follow up the enemy rapidly and annihilate his force, or first 
to attack Forts Niagara and George — was submitted by general 
Brown to a council of war. The latter was resolved upon. 
Preparatory to this, general Ripley and general Porter were 
ordered to reconnoitre the forts — the one along the Niagara, 
the other by the way of St. David's, for the purpose of ascer- 
taining their respective situations and obtaining other informa- 
tion necessary for the attack. This service they successfully 
performed, although much exposed to the fire of the garrison of 
Port George, and assailed by skirmishing parties sent out from 
thence. The plan, however, was abandoned, in consequence, as 
was alleged by general Brown, of the failure of the fleet to 
co-operate with him, commodore Chauncey being at this time 
extremely ill. The general therefore, withdrawing from the ad- 
vanced position to which he had moved on the Niagara and Lake 
Ontario, prepared to pursue the British army to Burlington 
Heights ; and, with a view to this, on the 24th he fell back to 
the junction of the Chippewa with the Niagara. 

Lieutenant-general Drummond, mortified that his veteran 
troops should have been beaten by what he considered raw 
Americans, was anxious for an opportunity of retrieving his 
credit. He had collected every regiment from Burlington and 
York, and the lake being free, had been able to transport troops 
from Fort George, Kingston and even Prescott. General Riall 
took post at Queenstown, immediately after it was abandoned 
by the Americans in their retreat to Chippewa ; thence he threw 
a strong detachment across the Niagara to Lewistown, to 
threaten the town of Schlosser, which contained the supplies of 



234 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Battle of Niagara, 

general Brown, and also his sick and wounded ; and at the same 
time despatched a party in advance of him on the Niagara road. 
With the view of drawing off the enemy from his attempt on 
the village across the river, general Brown, having no means of 
transporting troops to its defence, directed general Scott to 
move towards Queenstown with his brigade, seven hundred 
strong, together with Towson's artillery and one troop of dra- 
goons and mounted men. At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 
25th, general Scott led his brigade from the camp, and after pro- 
ceeding along the Niagara about two miles and a half from the 
Chippewa, and within a short distance of the cataracts, discover- 
ed general Riall on an eminence near Lundy's Lane, a position 
of great strength, where he had planted a battery of nine pieces 
of artillery, two of which were brass twenty-four pounders. On 
reaching a narrow strip of woods which intervened between the 
American and the British line, captains Harris and Pentland, 
whose companies formed a part of the advance, and were first 
fired on, gallantly engaged the enemy. The latter now retreated 
for the purpose of drawing the American column to the post 
at Lundy's Lane. General Scott resolutely pressed forward, 
after despatching major Jones to the commander-in-chief with 
intelligence that he had come up with the enemy. He had no 
sooner cleared the wood, and formed in line on a plain finely 
adapted to military manoeuvres, than a tremendous cannonade 
commenced from the enemy's battery, situated on their right, 
which was returned by captain Towson, whose artillery were 
posted opposite, and on the left of the American line, but with- 
out being able to bring his pieces to bear on the eminence. 
The action was continued for an hour, against a force three times 
that of the American brigade. The Eleventh and Twenty-second 
regiments having expended their ammunition, colonel Brady and 
lieutenant-colonel M'Neill being both severely wounded, and 
nearly all the other officers either killed or wounded, they were 
withdrawn from action. Lieutenant Crawford, lieutenant Saw- 
yer, and a few other officers of those regiments, attached them- 
selves to the Ninth, in such stations as were assigned them. This 
regiment, under its gallant leader, lieutenant-colonel Leaven- 
worth, was now obliged to maintain the whole brunt of the ac- 
tion. Orders had been given him to advance and charge on the 
height, and with the Eleventh and Twenty-second regiments 
to break the enemy's line ; but, on information being commu- 
nicated to general Scott of the shattered condition of the latter, 
the order was countermanded. Colonel Jesup, at the com- 
raencement of the action, had been detached, with the Twenty 
fifth regiment, to attack the left of the enemy's line. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 235 

Battle of Niagara General Riall taken Prisoner. 

The British now pressed forward on the Ninth regiment, which 
with wonderful firmness withstood the attaclt; of their over- 
whehning numbers. Being reduced at length to not more than 
one half, and being compelled at every moment to resist fresh 
lines of the British, colonel Leavenworth despatched a messen- 
ger to general Scott, to communicate its condition. The gen- 
eral rode up in person, roused the flagging spirits of the brave 
men with the pleasing intelligence that reinforcements were ex- 
pected every moment, and besought them to hold their ground. 
Lieutenant Riddle, already well known as a reconnoitering 
officer, was the first to come to their assistance, having been 
drawn to the place by the sound of the cannon, while on a scour- 
ing expedition in the neighbouring country. The same circum- 
stance advised general Brown of the commencement of the ac- 
tion, and induced him to proceed rapidly to the scene, after giving 
orders to general Ripley to follow with the second brigade. He 
was already on his way when he met major Jones, and, influ- 
enced by his communication, he despatched him to bring up 
general Porter's volunteers, together with the artillery. 

The situation of Scott's brigade was every moment becoming 
more critical. Misled by the obstinacy of their resistance, 
general Riall overrated their force ; and despatched a messen- 
ger to general Drummond, at Fort George, for reinforcements, 
notwithstanding that the number engaged on his side, thus far, 
had been more than double that of the Americans. During the 
period that both armies were waiting for reinforcements, a volun- 
tary cessation from combat ensued ; and for a time no sound 
broke upon the stillness of the night, but the groans of the 
wounded, mingling with the distant thunder of the cataract of 
Niagara. The silence was once more interrupted, and the en- 
gagement renewed with augmented vigour, on the arrival of 
general Ripley's brigade, major Hindman's artillery, and gene- 
ral Porter's volunteers, and at the same time of lieutenant-gene- 
ral Drummond with reinforcements to the British. The artil- 
lery were united to Towson's detachment, and soon came into 
action ; Porter's brigade was displayed on the left, and Ripley's 
formed on the skirts of the wood, to the right of Scott's brigade. 
General Drummond took the command in person of the front 
line of the enemy with his fresh troops. 

In the meantime, colonel Jesup, who, as before mentioned, had 
been ordered, at the commencement of the action, to take post 
on the right, had succeeded during the engagement, after a gallant 
contest, in turning the left flank of the enemy. Taking advantage 
of the darkness of the night, and the carelessness of the enemy 
in omitting to place a proper guard across a road on his left, he 



236 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Battle of Niagara CoJ-^nel Jesup .... Colonel Miller—" I will try, sir." 



threw his regiment in the rear of their reserve ; and surprising 
one detachment after another, made prisoners of so many of 
their officers and men, that his progress was greatly impeded 
by it. The laws of war would have justified him in putting 
them to death ; " but the laurel, in his opinion, was most glo- 
rious when entwined by the hand of mercy," and he generously 
spared them. One of his officers, captain Ketchum, who had 
already distinguished himself at the battle of Chippewa, had 
the good fortune to make prisoner of general Riall, who, on the 
arrival of general Drummond, had been assigned to the com- 
mand of the reserve, and also of captain Loring, the aid of 
general Drummond. The latter was a most fortunate circum- 
stance, as it prevented the concentration of the British forces 
contemplated by that officer, before the Americans were pre- 
pared for his reception. After hastily disposing of his prisoners, 
colonel Jesup felt his way through the darkness to the place 
where the hottest fire was kept up on the brigade to which he 
belonged ; and drawing up his regiment behind a fence, on one 
side of the Queenstown road, but in the rear of a party of Bri- 
tish infantry, posted on the opposite side of the same road, he 
surprised them by a fire so destructive, that they instantly broke 
and fled. " The major," said general Brown, " showed him- 
self to his own army in a blaze of fire." He received the ap- 
plause of the general, and was ordered to form on the right of 
the second brigade. 

General Ripley, seeing the impracticability of operating upon 
the enemy from the place at which he had been ordered to post 
his brigade, or of advancing from it in line through a thick 
wood, in the impenetrable darkness of the night, determined, 
with that rapid decision which characterizes the real commander," 
to adopt the only measure by which he saw a hope of saving 
the first brigade from destruction, or of ultimately achieving the 
victory ; and which, when made known to the commander-in- 
chief, was instantly sanctioned. The eminence occupied by the 
enemy's artillery was the key to their position. Addressing 
himself to colonel Miller, the same who had distinguished him- 
self at Magagua, he inquired whether he could storm the battery 
at the head of the Twenty-first regiment, while he would himself 
support him with the younger regiment, the Twenty-third. To 
this the wary, but intrepid veteran replied, in unaffected phrase, 
I WILL TRY,' SIR ; words, which were afterwards worn on the 
buttons of his regiment ; and immediately prepared for the 
arduous effort, by placing himself directly in front of the hill. 
The Twenty-third was formed in close column, by its com- 
mander, major M'Farland ; and the First regiment, under co- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 237 



Battle of Niagara British Cannon charged upon and taken- 

lonel Nicholas, which had that day arrived from a long and 
fatiguing march, was left to keep the infantry in check. The 
two regiments moved on to one of the most perilous charges 
ever attempted ; the whole of the artillery, supported by the 
fire of a powerful line of infantry, pouring upon them as they 
advanced. The Twenty-first moved on steadily to its purpose : 
the Twenty-third faltered on receiving the deadly fire of the 
enemy, but was soon rallied by the personal exertions of gen- 
eral Ripley. When within a hundred yards of the summit, 
they received another dreadful discharge, by which major 
M'Farland was killed, and the command of his regiment de- 
volved on major Brooks. To the amazement of the British, 
the intrepid Miller firmly advanced, until within a few paces 
of their cannon, when he impetuously charged upon the artille- 
rists, and after a short but desperate resistance, carried the whole 
battery, and formed his line in its rear, upon the ground pre- 
viously occupied by the British infantry. In carrying the 
largest pieces, the Twenty-first suffered severely : lieutenant 
Cilley, after an unexampled effort, fell wounded by the side 
of the piece which he took ; and there were few of the officers 
of this regiment who were not either killed or wounded. By 
the united efforts of these two regiments, and the bringing into 
line of the First, the fate of this bold assault was determined : 
the British infantry were in a short time driven down the emi- 
nence, out of the reach of musquetry, and their own cannon turned 
upon them. This admirable effort completely changed the 
nature of the battle : every subsequent movement was directed to 
this point, as upon the ability to maintain it the result of the con- 
flict entirely depended. Major Hindman was now ordered to 
bring up his corps, including captain Towson's detachment, 
and post himself, with his own and the captured cannon, to 
the right of Ripley's brigade, and between it and the Twenty- 
fifth, Jesup's, regiment, while the volunteers of general Porter 
retained their position on the left of Scott's brigade. 

Stung with rage and mortification at this most extraordinary 
and successful exploit of the Americans, general Drummond, the 
British commander, now considered it absolutely essential to the 
credit of the British army, and to avoid insupportable disgrace, 
that the cannon and the eminence on which they were captured 
should be retaken. Having been greatly reinforced, he advanced 
upon Ripley, with a heavy and extended line, outflanking him 
on both extremes. The Americans stood silently awaiting his 
approach, which could only be discovered by the sound attend- 
ing it, reserving their fire, in obedience to orders, until it could 
be effective and deadly. The whole division of the British now 



238 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Battle of Niagara .... Desperate Efforts of the British to regain their Cannon. 

marched at a brisk step, until within twenty paces of the summit of 
the height, when it poured in a rapid fire, and prepared to rush 
forward with the bayonet. The American Hne being directed by 
the fire of the enemy, returned it with deadly effect. The enemy 
were thereby thrown into momentary confusion ; but being rallied, 
returned furiously to the attack. A most tremendous conflic 
ensued ; which for twenty minutes continued with violence inde* 
scribable. The British line was at last compelled to yield, and 
to retire down the hill. In this struggle general Porter's vo- 
lunteers emulated the conduct of the regulars. The gallant 
major Wood, of the Pennsylvania corps, and colonel Dobbin, 
of the New York, gave examples of unshaken intrepidity. 

It was not supposed, however, that this would be the last 
effort of the British general ; general Ripley therefore had the 
wounded transported to the rear, and instantly restored his line 
to order. General Scott's shattered brigade having been con- 
solidated into one battalion, had during this period been held 
in reserve behind the second brigade, under colonel Leaven- 
worth ; colonel Brady having been compelled, by the severity 
of his wound, to resign the command. It was now ordered to 
move to Lundy's Lane, and to form with its right towards the 
Niagara road, and its left in the rear of the artillery. 

After the lapse of half an hour, general Drummond was 
heard again advancing to the assault with renovated vigour. 
The direction at first given by general Ripley was again 
observed. The fire of the Americans was dreadful ; and the 
artillery of major Hindman, which were served with great skill 
and coolness, would have taken away all heart from the British 
for this perilous enterprise, had not an example of bravery 
been set them by the Americans. After the first discharge, 
the British general threw himself with his entire M'eight upon 
the centre of the American line. He was firmly received by 
the gallant Twenty-first regiment ; a few platoons only faltering, 
which were soon restored by general Ripley. Finding that 
no impression could be made, the whole British line again re- 
coiled, and fell back to the bottom of the hill. During this 
second contest, two gallant charges were led by general Scott 
in person, the first upon the enemy's left, and the second on 
his right fiank, with his consolidated battalion ; but having to 
oppose double lines of infantry, his attempts, which would 
have been decisive had they proved successful, were unavail- 
ing. Although he had most fortunately escaped unhurt thus 
far, subsequently, in passing to the right, he received two severe 
wounds : regardless of himself, however, he did not quit the 
field, until he had directed colonel Leavenworth to unite 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 239 



Battle of Niagara Desperate Efforts of the British to regain their Cannon. 



his battalion with the Twenty-fifth regiment, under the com- 
mand of colonel Jesup. 

Disheartened by these repeated defeats, the British were ou 
the point of yielding the contest, when they received fresh 
reinforcements from Fort George, which revived their spirits, 
and induced them to make another and still more desperate 
struggle. After taking an hour to refresh themselves and reco- 
ver from their fatigue, they advanced with a still more extended 
line, and with confident hopes of being able to overpower the 
Americans. Our countrymen, who had stood to their arms 
during all this time, were worn down with fatigue, and almost 
fainting with thirst, which there was no water at hand to 
quench. From the long interval which had elapsed since the 
second repulse, they had begun to cherish hopes that the enemy 
had abandoned a further attempt ; but in this they were disap- 
pointed. On the approach of the British for the third time, 
their courageous spirit returned, and they resolved never to 
yield the glorious trophies of their victory, until they could 
contend no longer. The Brttish delivered their fire at the same 
distance as on the preceding onsets. But although it was re- 
turned v/ith the same deadly effect, they did not fall back with 
the same precipitation as before ; they steadily advanced, and 
repeated their discharge. A conflict, obstinate and dreadful 
beyond description, ensued. The Twenty-first, under its 
brave leader, firmly withstood the shock ; and although the 
right and left repeatedly fell back, they were as often rallied 
by the personal exertions of the general, and colonels Miller, 
Nicholas, and Jesup. At length the two contending lines were 
on the very summit of the hill, where the contest was waged 
with terrific violence at the point of the bayonet. Such was 
the obstinacy of the conflict, that many battalions, on both 
sides, were forced back, and the opposing parties became 
mingled with each other. Nothing could exceed the despera- 
tion of the battle at the point where the cannon were stationed. 
The enemy having forced themselves into the very midst of 
major Hindman's artillery, he was compelled to engage them 
across the carriages and guns, and at last to spike two of his 
pieces. General Ripley, having brought back the broken sec- 
tions to their positions and restored the line, now pressed upon 
the enemy's flanks and compelled them to give way. The 
centre soon following the example, and the attack upon the 
artillery being at this moment repulsed, the whole British line 
fled a third time ; and no exertions of their officers could re- 
strain them, until they had placed themselves out of reach of the 
musquetry and artillery. The British now consented to relia- 



210 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



British recover their Cannon Both Annies retire from the Field. 

quish their cannon, and retired beyond the borders of the field, 
leaving their dead and wonnded. 

General Brown had received two severe wounds at the com- 
mencement of the last charge, and was compelled to retire to 
the camp at the Chippewa, leaving the command to general 
Ripley. The latter officer had made repeated efforts to obtain 
the means of removing the captured artillery ; but the horses 
having been killed, and no drag-ropes being at hand, they were 
still on the place where they had been captured, when orders 
were received from general Brown, to collect the wounded and 
return to camp immediately. The British cannon were there- 
fore left behind, the smaller pieces having first been rolled 
down the hill. The whole of the troops reached the camp 
in good order about midnight, after an unmolested march. 

It is much to be regretted that these trophies of victory could 
not have been secured ; as the circumstance of their recovery 
by the British gave them occasion, surprising as it may seem, 
to claim the victory. To high praise they certainly were en- 
titled ; but to the merit of " a complete defeat of the Americans," 
they had no claim, and the assertion was an outrage to truth. 
A compliment for such a victory ought to infuse the blush of 
shame into the cheek of any honourable soldier who had a 
share in the contest so named. 

The British force engaged, of whom twelve hundred were 
militia and five hundred Indians, was little short of five thou- 
sand men ; being nearly a third greater than that of the Ameri- 
cans. The loss on either side was proportioned to the nature of 
this dreadful and sanguinary battle: its aggregate, in both armies, 
amounted to one thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine ; 
and the killed and wounded alone to near one thousand four 
hundred. In the records of the most bloody battles we seldom 
meet with so great a number of officers killed and wounded. 
On the side of the British, one assistant adjutant-general, one 
captain, three subalterns, and seventy-nine non-commissioned 
officers and privates, were killed ; lieutenant-general Drum- 
mond, three lieutenant-colonels, two majors, eight captains, 
twenty-two subalterns, and five hundred and twenty-two non- 
commissioned officers and privates were wounded ; one major 
general (Riall, who was also wounded), one aid-de-camp — cap- 
tain Loring, five other captains, nine subalterns, and two hun- 
dred and twenty non-commissioned officers and privates, were 
prisoners or missing : making in all eight hundred and seventy- 
eight men. The American loss was, one major, five captains, 
five subalterns, and one hundred and fifly-nine non-commis- 
sioned officers and privates, killed; major-general Brown, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 241 

British advance again the following Morning Americans retreat to Fort Erie. 

brigadier-generals Scott and Porter, two aids-de-camp, one 
brigade major, one colonel, four lieutenant-colonels, one major, 
seven captains, thirty-seven subalterns, and five hundred and 
fifteen non-commissioned officers and privates, wounded ; and 
one brigade major, one captain, six subalterns, and one hun- 
dred and two non-commissioned officers and privates, prisoners 
or missing : making a grand total of eight hundred and fifty-one. 
Thus there was a difference of twenty-seven only, between the 
respective losses of the contending parties. 

The commander-in-chief ordered general Ripley to refresh 
the troops on their arrival at the camp, and in the morning to 
proceed to the battle ground, and engage the enemy if circum- 
stances permitted. On reconnoitering the energy, he found 
them drawn up in advance of their position of the preceding 
day on the eminence, and presenting a formidable appearanae. 
It would have been madness to renew the combat with a force 
which, on examination, amounted to only fifteen hundred men 
fit for duty ; and he therefore properly declined it. His con- 
duct was hastily censured by general Brown, in his despatches 
to the government. General Ripley, in consequence, had for 
a long period to contend with the obloquy of public opinion ; 
and it was not until some time subsequently, that the full extent 
of his merit was known. It is now generally admitted, that 
much of the praise of this brilliant victory is due to the skill 
and valour of this officer. 

General Ripley, finding himself unable to make a stand 
against the superior force of the British, retreated to Fort Erie, 
and anticipating their approach, immediately set about extend- 
ing its defences. • The enemy, notwithstanding their pretended 
victory, did not think proper to follow up the Americans, until 
they had been reinforced by general De Watteville, with one 
thousand men. Their whole force, now amounting to upwards 
of five thousand men, appeared, on the 3d of August, before a 
fortification which a few days previously had been considered 
untenable, and commenced the erection of regular intrench- 
ments. The besieged, at the same time, laboured incessantly 
to complete their arrangements for defence. The position 
which the American army had taken, for the purpose of main- 
taining itself against so great a superiority, possessed few 
natural advantages ; and the work called Fort Erie was little 
more than a small unfinished redoubt. Situated about one 
hundred yards from the lake shore at its nearest angle, and on 
a plain of about fifteen feet elevation, this fort could be con- 
sidered as nothing more than the strongest point of a fortified 
camp. A line of works was yet to be constructed in front, and 

V 



242 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Siege of Fort Erie Projected Attack on Buffalo repulsed. 

on the right and left to the lake ; the rear on the shore being 
left open. The fort itself probably did not occupy more than 
a sixth of the space occupied by the line of defences; and the 
remainder could not be otherwise than hastily constructed. 
Indeed, notwithstanding the slow and cautious approaches of 
the British, much remained unfinished at the last moment. 

On the same day that the enemy appeared before Fort Erie, 
a detachment, under colonel Tucker, crossed the Niagara, for 
the purpose of attacking Buffalo and recapturing general Riall. 
This party, although subsequently increased by reinforcements 
to twelve hundred men, was repulsed by major Morgan with 
but two hundred and forty men. In this affair captain Hamil- 
ton and lieutenants Wadsworth and M'Intosh were killed. 

The defences of Fort Erie were sufficiently completed, by 
the 7th, to keep at bay an enemy who had learned to respect 
our arms. From this day, until the 14th, there was an almost 
incessant cannonade between the batteries of the besiegers and 
the besieged. In the frequent skirmishes which took place, 
the Americans were generally victorious ; in one of them, how- 
ever, they lost major Morgan, a brave officer, who had dis- 
tinguished himself as above mentioned, and whose death was 
sincerely lamented. General Gaines had arrived shortly after 
the commencement of the siege, and before any regular firing 
had been entered upon. Being the senior officer, he assumed 
the chief direction, and general Ripley returned to the com- 
mand of his brigade. 

On the night of the 14th, general Ripley perceived a bustle 
in the British camp ; and conceiving that an assault was about 
to be made, he despatched a messenger to apprize general 
Gaines of his convictions, who, however, had already formed 
a similar opinion. Dispositions, in which the troops enthusi- 
astically participated, were now rapidly made to receive the 
expected assailants. 

General Drummond had made arrangements to assail the 
American fortifications on the right, centre and left at the same 
instant ; and general Gaines, not knowing where the enemy 
would make his attack, was prepared to meet him at all points. 
The fort and bastions were placed under the command of cap- 
tain Williams, of the artillery ; and a battery on the margin of 
the lake was assigned to captain Douglass, of the engineers. 
A blockhouse, near the salient bastion of the fort, was occupied 
by major Trimble with a detachment of infantry. Captains 
Biddle and Fanning, supported by general Porter's volunteers 
and the riflemen, commanded the batteries in front. The 
whole of the artillery throughout the garrison were directed by 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 243 

Assault on Fort Erie. 

major Hindman. The first brigade, lately commanded by 
general Scott, now under lieutenant-colonel Aspinwall, was 
posted on the right ; and general Ripley's, the second, brigade, 
supported Towson's battery at the southwestern extremity of 
the works, and the line of the works on the left. A few hours 
before the commencement of the assault, one of the enemy's 
shells exploded a small magazine within the American works, 
which was succeeded by a loud shout from the besiegers. The 
shout was returned by the Americans ; and captain Williams, 
amid the smoke of the explosion, immediately discharged all 
his heavy guns. 

At half past two in the morning, the darkness being excess- 
ive, the approach of the enemy's right column, one thousand 
three hundred strong, under lieutenant-colonel Fischer, was dis- 
tinctly heard on the left of the garrison. The second brigade, 
and the artillery of Towson's battery were ready to receive 
them. Advancing steadily and quickly, the British assailed 
the battery with scaling ladders, and the line towards the lake 
with the bayonet. They were permitted to approach close up 
to the works, when a tremendous fire was opened upon them, 
and their column fell back in confusion. Colonel Fischer, rally- 
ing his men, again advanced furiously to the attack ; but was a 
second time compelled to retire, with still greater loss. The 
possession of Towson's battery being considered essential to the 
general plan of assault, he next essayed to pass round the abattis 
by wading breast deep in the lake ; but in this attempt he was un- 
successful, and nearly two hundred of his men were either killed 
or drowned. Without seeking to learn the result of the attack 
on other points, he now ordered a retreat to the British encamp- 
ment. 

The enemy's central and left columns having waited until 
colonel Fischer was completely engaged, colonel Scott, who 
commanded the left column, approached on the right along 
the lake ; while lieutenant-colonel Drummond, with the central 
column, at the same moment advanced to the assault of the 
fort proper. Colonel Scott was checked by captain Douglass's 
battery, captains Boughton and Harding's New York and 
Pennsylvania volunteers on its right, the Ninth infantry under 
captain Foster on its left, and a six-pounder stationed there 
under the direction of colonel M'Ree. Their fire was so well 
directed, that the approaching column made a momentary 
pause at the distance of fifty yards, and then recoiled. Not- 
withstanding the rapid and heavy fire from captain Williams's 
artillery, the column of colonel Drummond, composed of eight 
hundred select troops, firmly advanced to the attack of the fort. 



244 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Assault on Fort Erie Death of Colonel Drummond. 

Suddenly applying his scaling ladders, he mounted the parapet, 
his officers calling out to the line extending to the lake on 
their left to cease firing. This artifice succeeded so well, that 
Douglass's battery and the infantry, supposing the order to 
have been given within the garrison, suspended their fire, and 
suffered colonel Scott, who had rallied his men, to approach 
their line. When the deception was discovered, it availed 
nothing ; for the column, on its second charge, was resisted 
with so much effect, as to be compelled again to retreat, with 
the loss of its commander and a third of its numbers. The 
central column was, in the meanwhile, with great difliiculty 
thrown back, although the troops within the fort were quickly 
reinforced from general Ripley's brigade, and general Porter's 
volunteers. Repeated assaults were made by colonel Drum- 
mond. Each time they were repulsed by colonel Hindman's 
artillery, and the infantry under major Trimble ; and now that 
colonel Scott's column had withdrawn from the action, lieu- 
tenant Douglass was engaged in giving such a direction to the 
guns of the battery, as to cut off the communication between 
colonel Drummond, and the reserve which was to be brought 
up to his support under lieutenant-colonel Tucker. 

Colonel Drummond, although three times repulsed, was un- 
willing to renounce his undertaking. Availing himself of the 
darkness of the morning, which was increased by the smoke, 
he stole silently along the ditch, and suddenly applying his 
ladders, once more rapidly gained the parapet, crying out to 
his men to charge vigorously, and give the Yankees no quar- 
ter ! This order was faithfully executed ; and the most furious 
strife now ensued that had been witnessed during the assault. 
All the efforts of major Hindman and the corps supporting 
him could not dislodge the enemy from the bastion, though 
they prevented him from approaching further. Captain Wil- 
liams was mortally wounded ; lieutenants Watmough and 
M'Donough, severely. The latter, no longer able to fight, called 
for quarter. This was refused by colonel Drummond, who re- 
peated his instructions to his troops to deny it in every instance. 
The declining and almost exhausted strength and spirits of 
the lieutenant being restored and roused by the barbarity of 
this order, he seized a handspike, and, with the desperation of 
madness, defended himself against the assailants, until he was 
shot by colonel Drummond himself. The latter survived this 
act only a few minutes : he received a ball in his breast, which 
terminated his existence. Brutal courage merits nothing but 
abhorrence ; it is only when tempered with mercy, that valour 
is a virtue. The enemy still maintained their position, notwith- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 245 

Assault on Fort Erie Tremendous Explosion British driven back. 

Standing the death of their leader, and repulsed every attempt 
to dislodge them until daylight : they had, in the meantime, 
suffered excessively. The contest along the whole line of 
defences, with this exception, having ceased, considerable rein- 
forcements were ordered up. The enemy now began to recoil ; 
and in a few moments many of them were thrown over the 
bastion. The reserve coming up to their support, the cannon 
of the Douglass battery enfiladed the column as it approached, 
and the artillery of lieutenant Fanning played upon it with 
great effect ; while a gun under the charge of captain Biddle 
was served with uncommon vivacity. A part of the reserve, to 
the number of from three to four hundred men, was neverthe- 
less about to rush on the parapet to the assistance of the recoil- 
ing soldiers, when a tremendous explosion took place under the 
platform of the bastion, which carried away the bastion and all 
who were on it. The reserve now fell back ; and the contest, 
in a short time, terminated in the entire defeat of the enemy, 
and their return to their encampment. 

The British left on the field two hundred and twenty-two 
killed, among them fourteen officers of distinction ,• one hun- 
dred and seventy-four wounded ; and one hundred and eighty- 
six prisoners : making a total of five hundred and eighty-two. 
The official statement of general Drummond makes it in all 
nine hundred and five, of which fifly-seven were killed. The 
American loss amounted to seventeen killed, fifty-six wounded, 
and one lieutenant (Fontain, thrown out while defending the 
bastion) and ten privates prisoners : in all, eighty-four men. It 
was not until all hopes of carrying the fort were at an end, that 
the British deigned to make prisoners of a few wounded men 
who fell into their power. 

The explosion of the bastion furnished the British with an 
excuse for their defeat ; and they represented its consequences 
as much more serious than they really were. It is certain, 
however, that the assault had already failed at every other point ; 
and the sniall body of men in possession of the outer bastion 
could not by possibility have subdued the whole garrison. 
Nor was the number killed by the explosion so great as they 
stated : the slaughter of the enemy took place during the as- 
sault, which, at the time when the occurrence took place, had 
lasted upwards of an hour. 

The enemy now remained quiet in his intrenchments until 
he received a reinforcement of two regiments. When th^^y ar- 
rived, he renewed his assault on the fort from enlarged batteries, 
continuing it, with little intermission, to the latter end of Au- 
gust. On the 28th, general Gaines being severely wounded by 



^46 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

> — — — — ■ 

Siege of Fort Erie Renewal of the Cannonade Sortie from the Fort. 

he bursting of a shell, and compelled to reth-e to Buffalo, the 
command again devolved on general Ripley. 

The situation of the army in Fort Erie had begun to excite 
considerable uneasiness ; but the operations of sir George Pre- 
vost, about this time, in the vicinity of Champlain and Platts- 
burg, rendered it for a period very uncertain whether any 
relief could be sent by general Izard. It afterwards appeared, 
that orders to that effect had been given to this officer by the 
secretary of war ; but he was prevented, by a variety of causes, 
from moving as rapidly as could have been desired. The 
garrison, however, was strengthened by the daily arrival of 
militia and volunteers ; and general Brown, having sufficiently 
recovered from his wounds, had returned to the command on 
the 2d of September. The siege was still maintained with 
vigour by the British, who had abandoned the idea of carrying 
the place otherwise than by regular approaches, although their 
force had been considerably augmented since their last defeat. 
The Americans laboured with unrelaxing assiduity, to complete 
their fortifications. Frequent skirmishes occurred, and a can- 
nonade on either side was kept up ; but nothing of importance 
took place until the 17th of September. General Brown, ob- 
serving that the enemy had just completed a battery, which 
would open a most destructive fire the next day, planned a 
sortie, which has been considered a military chef-d'osuvre, and 
which was carried into execution on the day just mentioned. 
The British force consisted of three brigades, of one thousand 
five hundred men each: one of them was stationed at the 
works in front of Fort Erie ; the other two occupied a camp 
two miles in the rear. The design of general Brown was to 
" storm the batteries, destroy the cannon, and roughly handle 
the brigade on duty, before those in reserve could be brought 
up." A road had previously been opened by lieutenants Riddle 
and Frazer, in a circuitous course, through the woods, within 
pistol shot of the right flank of the line of hostile batteries, and 
with such secrecy as to have escaped the notice of the enemy. 
At two o'clock P. M. the troops were drawn up in readiness to 
make the sortie. The left division, commanded by general 
Porter, was composed of riflemen and Indians under colonel 
Gibson, and two columns, the right commanded by colonel 
Wood, the left by general Davis of the New York militia ; and 
was to proceed through the woods by the road which had been 
opened. The right division, under general Miller, was sta- 
tioned in a ravine between the fort and the enemy's works, 
with orders not to advance until general Porter should have 
engaged their right flank. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 247 

Sortie from Fort Erie Destruction of the Enemy's Works. 

The troops of general Porter advanced with so much celerity 
and caution, that their attack upon the enemy's flank gave the 
first intimation of their approach. A severe conflict ensued, 
in which those gallant oflicers, colonel Gibson and colonel 
Wood, fell at the head of their columns. Their respective 
commands now devolved on lieutenant-colonel M'Donald and 
major Brooks. In thirty minutes, possession was taken of the 
two batteries in this quarter, and also of a blockhouse in the 
rear, and its garrison. Three twenty-four-pounders were 
rendered useless, and their magazine blown up by lieutenant 
Riddle, who narrowly escaped the effects of the explosion. 
At this moment the troops under general Miller came up. Aided 
by colonel Gibson's column, they pierced the British intrench- 
ments, and, after a sharp conflict, carried a battery and a block- 
house. In this assault brigadier-general Davis fell at the head 
of his volunteers. These batteries and the two blockhouses 
being in the possession of the Americans, general Miller's 
division directed its course toward the battery erected at the 
extremity of the enemy's left flank. At this moment they 
were joined by the reserve under general Ripley. The resist- 
ance here was much bolder and more obstinate. The works 
being exceedingly intricate, from the studied complexity of the 
successive lines of intrenchments, a constant use of the bayonet 
was the only mode of assailing them. The enemy had also, 
by this time, received considerable reinforcements from their 
encampment in the rear. General Miller continued to advance, 
notwithstanding the absence of those valuable officers, colonel 
Aspinwall and major Trimble, the former severely, the latter 
dangerously wounded. The Twenty-first regiment, under lieu- 
tenant-colonel Upham, belonging to the reserve, and part of the 
Seventeenth, uniting with the corps of general Miller, charged 
rapidly upon the battery, which was instantly abandoned by 
the British infantry and artillery. General Ripley, being the 
senior officer, now ordered a line to be formed for the protec- 
tion of the detachments engaged in destroying the batteries, and 
was engaged in making arrangements for following up, on the 
rear of general Drummond, a success which had so far tran- 
scended expectation, when he received a wound in the neck, 
and falling by the side of major Brooks, was immediately trans- 
ported to the fort. The objects of the sortie having been com- 
pletely effected, general Miller called in his detachments, and 
retired in good order, with the prisoners and many trophies of 
this signal exploit. Thus, in a few hours, the labour of the 
enemy for forty-seven days, was destroyed ; and, in addition 
to the loss of their cannon, upwards of a thousand of their 



248 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

British raise the Siege of Fort Erie, and retreat to Fort George. 

men were placed hors de combat, of whom three hundred and 
eighty -five were taken prisoners. The American loss amounted 
to eighty-three killed, two hundred and sixteen wounded, and 
a like number missing. Besides those already mentioned, 
several other officers of great merit were killed in this affair : 
captains Armistead of the rifle corps, Hall of the Eleventh 
infantry, Bradford of the Twenty-first, and Buel of the volun- 
teers ; ensign O'Fling, of the Twenty-third infantry, a gal- 
lant officer ; and lieutenants Brown, Belknap, and Blakesley, 
of the volunteers. On the third day after the British had 
achieved this splendid victory 1 for as such it was claimed by 
them, they broke up their encampment, and marched to Fort 
George. 

Soon after this affair, general Izard arrived with reinforce- 
ments from Plattsburg, and being the senior officer, succeeded 
to the command ; while general Brown was ordered to Sackett's 
Harbour. By this accession of force, and the completion of 
the defences, all apprehensions of any further attempt against 
Fort Erie were removed. About the latter end of July, the 
secretary at war, hearing that the British were sending strong 
reinforcements from Montreal to Kingston, had intimated to 
general Izard, the propriety of proceeding from Plattsburg to 
Sackett's Harbour with the principal part of his forces, for the 
purpose of threatening Prescott and Kingston, and at the same 
time of aiding general Brown in the prosecution of his part of the 
campaign. In pursuance of this intimation, the general moved to 
Sackett's Harbour, with nearly all his effective force, amounting 
to four thousand men, arriving there on the 17th of September. 
The events which had in the meantime occurred, and which 
have been already detailed, had given a new face to the cam- 
paign. Shortly before the arrival of the general at Sackett's 
Harbour, he had received a letter from general Brown, giving 
information of his critical position, and calling for speedy relief. 
It was not before the 20th, that general Izard was enabled to 
embark his troops on lake Ontario, and the 12th of October 
had arrived before he actually reached Fort Erie. It will be 
seen, in a subsequent chapter, that the post which he left was, 
soon after his departure, placed in a situation as critical as that 
which he had come to relieve. These were the unavoidable 
results of prosecuting the war with a handful of men, along 
a frontier of such immense extent, in the expectation that 
small corps, at distances of four or five hundred miles apart, 
could march to the relief of each other, or act on concerted 
plans, subject to innumerable contingencies. Fortunately, be- 
fore the arrival of general Izard, the success of the sortie plan- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 249 

Americans advance Fort Erie destroyed, and Upper Canada evacuated. 

tied by general Brown, had compelled the enemy to raise the 
siege. The approach of general Izard, in all probability, had 
furnished some inducement to the adoption of this step by the 
enemy. 

A sufficient garrison, under lieutenant-colonel Hindman, be- 
ing left for the protection of Fort Erie, the army moved towards 
the Chippewa, to operate offensively against the enemy ; but 
nothing of moment occurred for some time, in consequence of 
the shyness of the latter. 

Before the close of the campaign, a gallant affair was achiev- 
ed by general Bissel, of the second brigade of the first division. 
On the 18th of October, he was detached with nine hundred 
men, to the neighbourhogd of Cook's mills, at Lyon's creek, 
a branch of the Chippewa, for the purpose of destroying the 
enemy's stores in that quarter. After driving in a picket guard 
and capturing its officers, he threw across the creek two lieht 
companies under captain Dorman and lieutenant Horrel, ahu ;i 
rifle company under captain Irvine, and then encamped, 'i !;.) 
next morning the detachment was assailed by the marquis of 
Tweeddale with twelve hundred men. The companies on 
the other side of the creek received the enemy's first fire, and 
sustained the attack until general Bissel had formed his men 
and brought them to their support. Colonel Pinkney, with the 
Fifth regiment, was ordered to turn the enemy's right flank 
and cut off a piece of artillery which they had brought into ac- 
tion, while major Barnard advanced in front with instructions 
to make a free use of the bayonet. These orders were rapidly 
carried into execution. The whole line of the enemy began to 
recoil ; and the American reserve, composed of the Fifteenth 
regiment under major Grindage, and the Sixteenth under co- 
lonel Pearce, was no sooner discovered advancing, than tho 
marquis fell back in disorder to his intrenchments at the mouth 
of the river, leaving his killed and wounded behind. After 
pursuing him for a small distance, general Bissel, in compli- 
ance with his orders, proceeded to destroy the stores at the 
Mills ; and then retreated, with a loss of sixty-seven killed, 
wounded, and missing. 

Immediately after the repulse of the marquis of Tweeddale, 
the weather growing cold and the season for military opera- 
tions drawing to a close, it was determined to destroy Fort 
Erie, and evacuate Upper Canada. This was accordingly 
effected ; and the troops were transported to the American side, 
and distributed in winter quarters at Buffalo, Black Rock and 
Batavia. 

Thus terminated the third invasion of Canada, if it could pro- 



250 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Close of the Third Invasion of Canada Important Results of the Campaign. 



perly be so called ; for it was not generally expected that any 
thing further would be accomplished, than keeping in check 
the forces of the enemy and regaining what we had lost on 
our own side. At the opening of the campaign, general Brown 
indulged a hope of being able, in conjunction with commodore 
Chauncey, to subdue the British forces in the neighbourhood 
of Lake Ontario and to possess himself of Kingston ; but 
towards the beginning of autumn, so material a change had 
occurred in our situation, in consequence of the great augmen- 
tation of the British force on the Canada frontier, and the inva- 
sions of our territory on the sea coast, that all idea of making 
an impression on Canada, with the means then on foot, was 
abandoned. It was asserted by the friends of the administra- 
tion, that the best mode of protecting the Atlantic coast, was 
to tlu eaten Canada, and thus compel Great Britain to concen- 
trate the greater part of her force in that quarter. While the 
British regulars, it has since been ascertained, exceeded twenty 
thousand, nearly all veterans ; those of the Americans scarcely 
reached ten thousand — the whole of which force, distributed in 
the different Atlantic cities, could not have afforded much de- 
pendence for defence from the troops which would have been 
sent against them, had Great Britain been relieved from the de- 
fence of Canada. It is very questionable whether the perma- 
nent acquisition of that province would materially have bene- 
fited us. Many of its inhabitants were persons who fled from 
this country during our contest for independence ; and it was 
not likely that they would willingly consent that it should be 
incorporated with our republic. 

The most important results, however, followed the campaign 
on the Niagara. The character of American troops when 
under proper discipline, was thereby developed ; and was pro- 
ductive of as much honour to the United States, as of surprise 
to the enemy. The experience gained in the two first years 
of the war was scarcely sufficient to form good officers ; but 
during the residue of the period, the army was composed of 
better materials, the aversion for enlistment was gradually 
subsiding, and commissions were sought by young men of 
education and talents. Another year would have produced an 
army, which Great Britain might have regarded with some 
uneasiness. That spirit, which bestows superiority to man in 
every station, was beginning to discover its resistless power; 
and the closing scenes of this campaign placed the army on a 
level with the navy. What is that spirit ? It is the spirit of 
freedom ; it is that which gives conscious dignity and worth 
to the soldier and the citizen. It is that which gave victories 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 251 

Affairs of the West Croghan's— M'Arthur's Expeditions. 

to Greece, and gained triumphs for Rome, and which has car- 
ried the power of Britain round the globe. It was already proved 
to the world, that we could conquer on land as well as at sea. 
The battles of Niagara and Chippewa, both, were won by a com- 
bination of military skill and personal courage ; and the defence 
of Fort Erie, and the sortie from thence, had they been achieved 
by the arms of Great Britain, would have ranked among the 
most distino-uished acts of valour. 

In the course of the summer, several expeditions were under- 
taken to the westward. An attempt was made by major Cro- 
ghan, with the co-operation of the fleet of Lake Erie under com- 
modore Sinclair, to regain possession of the fort and island of 
Michilimackinac. On the 4th of August, the gallant young 
officer effected a landing on the island, but soon found that the 
enemy was in such strength as to render the capture of the 
place hopeless : he therefore, after a severe conflict, returned 
to the shipping, with the loss of about sixty in killed and 
wounded ; among the former, major Holmes, a valuable officer, 
and of the latter captain Desha of Kentucky. The expedition 
was not altogether useless : Fort St. Joseph's, and the British 
establishment at Sault St. Mary's were destroyed. On leaving 
the island, commodore Sinclair stationed two of his schooners, 
the Scorpion and Tigress, near St. Joseph's, to cut off* the sup- 
plies of the British garrison at Michilimackinac. These were 
unfortunately surprised by a very superior force of the enemy, 
and carried by boarding, aft:er great slaughter. 

On the 22d of October, general M' Arthur, with about seven 
hundred men, marched from Detroit into the enemy's country, 
and, after dispersing all their detachments in the neighbourhood 
of the river Thames, destroying their stores, and taking one hun- 
dred and fifty prisoners, arrived, without loss, at Detroit on the 
17th of the following month. A severe injury was thus inflict- 
ed upon the British, and their project of attacking Detroit ren- 
dered impracticable. 



252 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



War on the Sea Coast Commodore Barney's Flotilla. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



War on the Sea Coast— Engagements between the Enemy and Commodore Bar- 
ney's Flotilla in Chesapeake Bay— Plunderings of the British— Washington and Bal- 
timore threatened— Preparations for Defence— General Winder appointed to com- 
mand the troops to be assembled— Impracticability of collecting a sufficient Force— 
The Enemy are reinforced— Landing of the British Army under General Ross— Ad- 
vance of the British Army on Washington— American Army takes post at Bladens- 
burg— Battle of Bladensburg— Defeat of the Americans— Washington abandoned to 
the Enemy— British burn the Public Buildings— Retreat of the British to their Ship- 
ping— Plunder of Alexandria— Repulse of the British at Moors Fields, and death of 
Sir Peter Parker— Resignation of the Secretary of War— Trial and Acquittal of Gen- 
eral Winder. 

The shifting scenes of this war, carried on over a surface so 
extensive, and with objects so various, once more bring us 
back to the Atlantic sea coast. With the return of spring, the 
British renewed their practice of petty plundering and barbarous 
devastation on the waters of Chesapeake Bay, and to an extent 
still greater than they had carried it the year before. A flotilla, 
for the defence of the inlets and smaller rivers of the bay, con- 
sisting of a cutter, two gun-boats, and nine barges, was placed 
under the command of that gallant veteran, commodore Barney. 
On the 1st of June, 1814, he gave chase to two of the enemy's 
schooners, one of which carried eighteen guns, but on the ap- 
pearance of a large ship, which despatched a number of barges 
to cut him off, the commodore ordered his flotilla, by signal, 
to sail up the Patuxent. Here he engaged the enemy's 
schooners and barges, and succeeded in beating them off" and 
inflicting considerable injury on them. In a few days, the 
enemy, having been reinforced, followed the flotilla into St. 
Leonard's creek, and made another attempt on it, but were 
again compelled to retire, and pursued to their ships. On the 
10th, the enemy made a still more formidable attack upon the 
flotilla, with the two schooners and with twenty barges. After a 
smart action, the barges were driven for shelter to the eighteen- 
gun schooner, which was then so roughly handled at long shot, 
that her crew ran her aground and abandoned her. These 
attempts were frequently repeated until the 26th, when the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 253 



Plunderings of the British Washington and Baltimore threatened. 



commodore, having received a reinforcement of artillerists and 
marines, moved against the enemy's squadron, two of the ves- 
sels of which were frigates, and, after an action of two hours, 
drove them from their anchoraire. The commodore, findingr 
the blockade of the St. Leonard's raised, sailed out, and ascend- 
ed the Patuxent. 

After this, the enemy were constantly engaged in making 
inroads on the defenceless and unprotected settlements and vil- 
lages along the bay and its various inlets. The towns of Bene- 
dict and Lower Marlborough, on the Patuxent, were plundered 
of considerable quantities of tobacco, merchandize, and cattle. 
In the detail of these operations given by themselves, it appears 
to have been their uniform practice, to destroy the shipping, 
carry away the tobacco and other articles which they found 
in quantities, and induce the negroes to join them. A great 
number of individuals in easy, and even affluent circumstances 
were reduced to poverty. Several gallant attempts were made 
by general Taylor, and general Hungerford, in one of which 
the former was wounded and unhorsed and narrowly escaped 
capture, to repress their incursions into Virginia ; but, generally, 
the militia, being hastily assembled, were found inefficient. At 
Kinsale, St. Mary's, and various other places, admiral Cock- 
burn obtained considerable booty in tobacco, negroes and house- 
hold furniture. 

Towards the close of June, apprehensions began to be en- 
tertained, that the enemy had in view some more serious 
object of attack — either Baltimore, or Washington. Much 
alarm had been felt in these places the previous year; but 
after it had subsided, an opinion, probably well founded, was 
mdulged, that a land force, greatly more considerable than was 
then at the command of the British, would be required to make 
any serious impression upon either of these places, or even 
upon Annapolis or Norfolk. This was particularly proved in 
the attack upon the Latter ; and it was justly thought, that the 
enemy then received a lesson which would render him cautious 
of attacking the larger towns. But sudden and unforeseen oc- 
currences in Europe had entirely changed the face of things ; 
Great Britain was now able to supply what she was not pos- 
sessed of the year before, a powerful land force. Our govern- 
ment received certain intelligence from Messrs. Gallatin and 
Bayard, that our enemy was about to send powerful reinforce- 
ments to America. From the English prints it appeared that 
England was extravagantly elated by the great events which 
had transpired on the continent of Europe, took to herself the 
whole merit of being the conqueror of Napoleon, and in reality 
w 



254 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Washington and Baltimore threatened Preparations for Defence- 
believed herself the mistress of the world. She was well ac- 
quainted with our situation : she knew that our regular troops 
on the Canada frontier could not be withdrawn from thence, at 
a moment when she was preparing a powerful army to penetrate 
our northern slates ; and that it was impossible for us, in the 
short space of time which had elapsed since the overthrow of 
Bonaparte and the consequent release of her land troops from 
occupation, to embody a considerable and efficient force. The 
American cities, although tolerably well fortified against any 
approach by water, were all exposed to attack by land. A few 
thousand regulars scattered along a coast of fifteen hundred 
miles, and inexperienced militia drawn together on the spur of 
the occasion, were all the force we had to oppose to the vote 
ran soldiers of our enemy. There is no doubt that militia 
constitute the best materials for armies, because, individually, 
each man is influenced by higher motives than those which 
generally actuate the enlisted soldier ; but, in order to be effi- 
cient, to use the words of a great friend of this species of 
force, " they must be on a right foot ;" they must be encamped, 
disciplined, harmonised, accustomed to see danger, and taught 
to obey and confide in their officers. This is not the work of 
a day. In the open field, where active and practised evolutions 
are necessary, the novelty of the duty, as well as the want of 
mutual reliance, renders it impossible for this description of 
force to encounter, with effect, an army of veterans, used to 
dangers, and so regularly compacted by discipline as to act 
as it were with one mind. 

The attention of the president of the United States being 
seriously awakened to the approaching danger, by the news 
that reinforcements were to be sent to the British fleet thien in 
Chesapeake Bay, he called a council of the heads of the depart- 
ments, and suggested the propriety of collecting all the regu- 
lars within reach, of forming a camp of at least three thou- 
sand men at some point between the Patuxent and the Eastern 
Branch of the Potomac, and of embodying ten thousand militia 
at Washington. These ideas appeared to meet the approbation 
of all ; and there is Httle doubt, that could they have been car- 
ried into execution, both the cities of Baltimore and Washing- 
ton might safely have bid defiance to the British arms. Steps 
were immediately taken in furtherance of these views. Requisi- 
tions were made on the District of Columbia, for her whole 
quota of militia, amounting to two thousand men ; on Mary- 
land for the same, six thousand men ; on Pennsylvania for five 
thousand men ; and on Virginia for two thousand men : making 
ii the whole fifteen thousand men ; of which ten thousand, it 



HISTORY OF TFIE WAR. 255 

General Winder Impracticability of collecting a sufficient force. 

was thought, would not fail to take the field. It was ascer- 
tained, that about a thousand regulars could be depended on ; 
besides a squadron of horse then in Pennsylvania, some addi- 
tional regulars which were ordered from North Carolina, and 
commodore Barney's men, in case it should be found necessary 
to abandon his flotilla. This, on paper, was a formidable army : 
but, with the exception of the regulars, the soldiers of which it 
was to be composed were at their respective homes — many of 
them at a considerable distance ; and the work of collecting, 
embodying, arming, and disciplining them, operations requiring 
time and subject to delays, was yet to be performed. 

A new military district, composed of Maryland, the District 
of Columbia and part of Virginia, was formed ; and on the 5th 
of July the command of it was given to general Winder, an 
officer who had been taken prisoner by the British at the battle 
of Stony Creek, and who had recently been exchanged. The 
duties assigned to him were among the most important entrusted 
to any one during the war, and were of an exceedingly ar- 
duous and difficult nature. The army, with which he was to 
defend the important cities of Baltimore and Washington, existed 
only in prospect; and whether it could be brought into the field 
or not, depended upon events beyond his control. In justice 
to himself, it is to be regretted, that, in these circumstances, 
he had not declined the command ; but the desire of distinction 
and a sincere wish to serve his country overcoming every per- 
sonal consideration, he diligently employed himself, from the 
moment of his appointment, in visiting every part of the coun- 
try and examining its different fortifications — itself a work of 
considerable labour and time, and in assiduously collecting his 
force. In this latter undertaking, unexpected difficulties oc- 
curred. The governor of Maryland, after issuing draughts for 
three thousand men, found that scarcely as many hundred could 
be collected. With the governor of Pennsylvania, matters were 
still worse : he informed the secretary at war, that in conse- 
quence of the deranged state of the militia law, the executive 
had at that moment no power to enforce a draught ; but that 
he would appeal to the patriotism of the people, in the hope 
that the legal objection would not be made. Seven thousand 
men were thus at once out of the question, and of the remain- 
ing eight thousand men, not more than one-third could be 
relied on. At the beginning of August, the general had but a 
thousand regulars, actually collected ; and about four thousand 
militia, of which only the smaller part were collected. On 
the failure of the draught in the state of Maryland, the force 
then embodied at Annapolis was, by the consent of the gover- 



256 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Arrival of Reinforcements to the British Landing of the British Army. 

nor, taken as part of the state requisition. A brigade of Mary- 
land militia, under general Stansbury, was also placed at the 
disposal of general Winder ; but the inhabitants of Baltimore, 
near which city it was collected, recollecting their own exposed 
situation, could not part with it without reluctance. 

This is a candid statement of the causes which produced the 
subsequent disaster ; for in the circumstances the event could 
scarcely have happened otherwise than as it did, without the 
occurrence of one of those extraordinary turns of fortune, of 
which we can form no calculation. It would be wrong to charge 
the blame, which was justly due, exclusively to the agents in 
the affair. A portion must be assumed by the nation, and by 
our political institutions. 

The expected reinforcements to the British fleet, twenty-one 
sail of the line, under admiral Cochrane, arrived in Chesapeake 
Bay on the 16th of August, and were soon joined by a fleet in 
great force under admiral Malcolm. Accompanying these were 
several thousand land troops, under one of Wellington's most 
active officers, general Ross. An expedition was destined 
against Baltimore or Washington, but until the last moment it 
was uncertain against which in particular. The enemy divided 
his force into three parts. One division was sent up the Poto- 
mac, under captain Gordon, for the purpose of bombarding 
Fort Warburton, and opening the way to the city of Washing- 
ton ; and another, under sir Peter Parker, was despatched to 
threaten Baltimore. The main body, whose proceedings we 
are now to relate, ascended the Patuxent, apparently with the 
mtention of destroying commodore Barney's flotilla, which had 
taken refuge at the head of that river, but with the real inten- 
tion, as it was soon discovered, of attacking Washington. In 
prosecution of this plan, the expedition proceeded to Benedict, 
the head of frigate navigation. This place, on the west bank 
of the Patuxent, was reached on the 19th of August; and on 
the next day the debarkation of the land forces under general 
Ross, to the number of six thousand, was completed. On the 
21st, pursuing the course of the river, the troops moved to Not- 
tingham, and on the 22d arrived at Upper Marlborough ; a flo- 
tilla, consisting of launches and barges, under the command of 
admiral Cockburn, ascending the river and keeping pace with 
them. The day following, the flotilla of commodore Barney, 
in obedience to orders to that effect, was blown up by men left 
for the purpose ; the commodore having already joined general 
Winder with his seamen and marines. * 

General Winder at this time, when the enemy were within 
twenty miles of the capital, was at the head of only three thou- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 257 

General Ross Advance of the British Army on Washington. 

sand men, fifteen hundred of whom were militia entirely un- 
tried. The Baltimore militia, those from Annapolis, and the 
Virginia detachment, had not yet arrived. His camp was at 
the Woodyard, twelve miles from Washington. It was still 
doubtful whether the British intended an attack upon Fort 
Warburton, which could offer but little resistance to their 
land forces, although it could be formidable to their ships, 
or intended to march directly on Washington. The first was 
certainly the safer course of action, and as the enemy did not 
take it, it must be inferred that they were well acquainted with 
the incapacity of the city at this moment to resist an attack. 
On the afternoon of the 22d, the British army again set out, and 
after skirmishing with the Americans, halted for the night, five 
miles in advance of Upper Marlborough. General Winder 
now retreated to a place called the Old Fields, which covered 
Bladensburg, the bridges on the Eastern Branch of the Poto- 
mac, and Fort Warburton. Colonel Monroe, the secretary of 
state, and subsequently president of the United States, had 
been with him for several days, assisting him with his coun- 
sel, and actively engaged in reconnoitering the enemy ; and 
he was now joined by the president and heads of departments, 
who remained until the next evening. The anxious and pain- 
ful situation of the general rendered him desirous of benefiting 
by the counsel of the first officers of the nation ; and their 
uneasiness, in the urgency of the moment, induced them to 
hazard their opinions, perhaps too freely, on matters purely 
executive. Where prompt decision is necessary, the sugges- 
tions and expedients of too many minds do more harm than 
good. On the 23d, colonel Scott and major Peter were detached 
with some field pieces, and the companies of captains David- 
son and Stull, to skirmish with the enemy ; who however con- 
tinued to advance, and took a position, on the evening of the 
same day, within three miles of Old Fields. Apprehensive 
of a night attack, which would deprive him of his great supe- 
riority in cannon, general Winder retired to the city, intending 
to select a position between it and Bladensburg, where he 
might oppose the enemy with his whole force. 

On the preceding evening, general Stansbury had arrived with 
his brigade at Bladensburg, after a very fatiguing march, and 
immediately despatched his aid, major Woodyear, with the 
inteUigence to general Winder. On the evening following, he 
was joined by colonel Sterrett's, the Fifth Baltimore, regiment, 
five hundred strong, and a rifle battalion under major Pinkney, 
late attorney-general of the United States. General Stans- 
bury's command amounted to two thousand men. About 
w* 



258 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

American Army takes post at Bladensburg. 

twelve o'clock at night, the secretary of state arrived at the 
general's quarters, and communicating the circumstance of the 
enemy's advance on general Winder, advised him to fall in 
the enemy's rear immediately ; but the general objected, on 
the score of having been ordered to this post, and besides, that 
his men were so much harassed and fatigued by their march 
(a considerable portion having only just arrived), that it would be 
impracticable. During the night several false alarms were given, 
by which the troops were prevented from taking the repose 
they so much required, after fatigues to which the greater part 
of them were unaccustomed. On the receipt of the intelli- 
gence of general Winder's retreat, general Stansbury, on consul- 
tation with his officers, determined to move towards the city. 
Before day he crossed the bridge over the Eastern Branch of 
the Potomac, and after securing his rear, halted for a few hours. 
Early in the morning he again moved forward, with the view of 
taking possession of some ground for defence, when orders 
were received from general Winder to give battle to the 
enemy at Bladensburg ; he therefore retraced his steps, and 
between ten and eleven o'clock halted his troops in an orchard 
field, to the left of the road from Washington to that place. 
The enemy were then within three miles of him, and in full 
march. 

The best arrangements the time would permit were made. 
About five hundred yards from the bridge, the artillery from 
Baltimore, consisting of six six-pounders, under the command 
of captains Myers and Magruder, were posted behind a kind of 
breastwork ; and major Pinkney's riflemen were placed in am- 
bush to the right and left, so as to annoy the enemy when at- 
tempting to cross the stream, and at the same time, in conjunc- 
tion with Captain Doughty's company, to support the artillery. 
The Fifth Baltimore regiment was drawn up about fifty yards 
in the rear ; and afterwards, perhaps injudiciously, removed 
much further. The other parts of the brigade were also so dis- 
posed, as to support the artillery, and annoy the enemy in his 
approach. Shortly after this disposition was made, lieutenant- 
colonel Beall arrived with about five hundred men from Anna- 
polis, and was posted higher up in a wood on the right of the road. 
General Winder having, by this time, brought up his main 
body, had formed it in the rear of Stansbury's brigade, and in 
a line with Beall's detachment, and the heavy artillery under 
commodore Barney posted to the right on an eminence near the 
road. This line had scarcely been formed, when the engage- 
ment commenced. The president, with the heads of the depart- 
ments, who had until now been present, withdrew ; as he con- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 259 

Battle of Bladensburg. 

ceived it proper to leave the direction of the combat to the 
miUtary men. 

About twelve o'clock of the 24th, a column of the enemy made 
its appearance on the hill which overhangs the stream, and 
moved down towards the bridge, throwing rockets, and appa- 
rently determined to force the passage. He now made an 
attempt to throw a strong body of infantry across the stream, 
but a few well directed shot from the artillery compelled him 
to shelter himself behind some houses. After a considerable 
pause, a large column of the British rapidly advanced in the face 
of the battery, which, although managed by officers of acknow- 
ledged skill and courage, were unable to repress them ; and they 
continued to push forward, until they formed a considerable 
body on the Washington road. These troops had not ad- 
vanced far, when the company under captain Doughty, having 
discharged their pieces, fled, in spite of the efforts of their com- 
mander and of major Pinkney to rally them. The major's 
corps began its fire too soon, but did some execution. The 
British now were every moment drawing nearer the artillery, 
which could no longer be brought to bear upon them. In the 
absence of troops to support them, it became unavoidably neces- 
sary for the artillerists to retire, which they did, followed by 
major Pinkney's riflemen, and leaving one gun behind them. 
The whole fell back upon the Fifth regiment, the nearest rally- 
ing point. A volunteer company of artillery now opened a 
cross fire upon the enemy, who were advancing through the 
orchard, but not with much effect. Colonel Sterrett was next 
directed to advance ; but he was almost immediately halted in 
consequence of the other tv/o regiments of Stansbury's brigade 
having been thrown into confusion by rockets and begun to 
give way. In a few minutes they took to flight. Sterrett's 
regiment evinced a disposition to make a gallant resistance 
but the enemy having by this time outflanked it, a retreat was 
ordered. This unfortunately was effected in confusion and dis 
order, the unavoidable consequence of the retreat of militia 
Thus the first line was completely routed. The Baltimore ar 
tillery had, before this, taken a position higher up on the hill 
On the right, colonel Beall, commanding the Annapolis militia 
had thrown forward a small detachment under colonel Kramer 
which, after maintaining its ground some time with consider 
able injury to the enemy, retired upon the main body. On the 
retreat of this detachment, the enemy advanced along the turn 
pike road, and coming in front of commodore Barney's artillery 
were exposed to the fire of an eighteen-pounder, by which their 
progress was checked ; and in several subsequent attempts to 



260 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Battle of Bladensburg Defeat of the Americans. 

pass the battery, they were repulsed with great loss. In con- 
sequence of this, they attempted to flank the commodore's 
right, by passing through an open field ; but this was frustrated 
by captain Miller of the marines, with three twelve-pounders, 
and the men of the flotilla acting as infantry. After being thus 
kept in check for half an hour, the enemy succeeded in out- 
flanking the right of the battery ; and pressed upon the militia 
of Annapolis, who fled, after giving an ineffectual fire. The 
command of commodore Barney was now left to maintain the 
contest alone : but the enemy no longer appeared in front ; he 
continued to outflank, pushing forward a {ew scattering sharp- 
shooters, by which the commodore was wounded, and his horse 
killed under him. His corps was by this time outflanked on 
both sides ; two of his principal officers were killed, and two 
others wounded; and, in the confusion, the ammunition wagons 
had been driven off". His men therefore retreated, leaving 
their pieces in the hands of the enemy. The commodore him- 
self, after retiring a short distance, fell, exhausted by loss of 
blood, to the ground. Being taken prisoner by the enemy, he 
was treated with that courtesy which his gallantry merited, 
and received the immediate attendance of their surgeons. 

The Georgetown and City militia, and the regulars, still re- 
mained firm, having been stationed in the rear of the second 
line, in positions the most convenient for annoying the enemy 
and supporting the other corps. These being in danger every 
moment of being outflanked, orders were sent to them to 
retreat towards the city. After retiring a few hundred paces 
as directed, they were joined by a regiment of Virginia militia, 
which had arrived the evening before, but had not been ready 
until now to take the field. General Winder still entertained 
hopes of being able to rally his troops, and of fighting the 
enemy between this place and Washington. He had ordered 
the Baltimore artillery to move on towards the city ; and e'x- 
pected to find that Stansbury's command had fallen down the 
road to that place. With the view of making another struggle to 
save the capital, he rode forward for the purpose of selecting 
a position ; but he soon found that, instead of proceeding towards 
Washington, they had scattered in every direction. It after- 
wards appeared, that the greater part had fled towards Mont- 
gomery Courthouse. The City and Georgetown militia were 
thus compelled to retire, without having had the slightest op- 
portunity of defending their homes and their firesides. On 
his arrival at the city, general Winder was met by the secre- 
tary at war and the secretary of state ; and after a consulta- 
tion, it was agreed, that, with the small remains of the army, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 261 

Washington abandoned to the Enemy, who burn the Public Buildings. 

it was in vain to think of making a stand there. It was there- 
fore proposed to rally the troops on the Heights of Georgetown. 
The general soon found, however, that but few of the mihtia 
could be collected. Some had strayed off in search of food or 
refreshment, having suffered much during the day ; and those 
who remained were exhausted by the privations and fatigues 
which they had experienced. The next day he proceeded, 
with such as he could collect, to Montgomery. 

The loss of the British in the battle of Bladensburg was lit- 
tle short of a thousand men killed, wounded, or missing : that 
of the Americans, between thirty and forty killed, from fifty to 
sixty wounded, and about one hundred and twenty taken pri- 
soners. By the issue of this battle, general Ross obtained 
possession of the bridge over the Eastern Branch of the 
Potomac. After halting his army for a short time for refresh- 
ments, he moved on to Washington, where he arrived about 
eight o'clock the same evening. Having stationed his main 
body at the distance of a mile and a half, he entered the city 
at the head of about seven hundred men, without meeting any 
opposition. 

In the American metropolis, or rather its site, the British 
found about nine hundred houses, scattered in groups over a 
surface of three miles ; and two splendid buildings, the Capitol, 
as yet unfinished, and the President's House, among the finest 
specimens of architecture in the new world. Orders, issued by 
admiral Cockburn and general Ross, for the conflagration of 
these noble edifices, were immediately executed. The great 
bridge across the Potomac was also wantonly burnt ; together 
with an elegant hotel, and several other private dwellings. This 
barbarous destruction is detailed in the official letter of the Brit- 
ish general in a manner of perfect indifference ! The blaze pro- 
duced by the conflagration was seen even in Baltimore. All that 
was combustible about the Capitol and the President's House, 
including therein all the furniture and articles of taste or value, 
and the valuable libraries of the senate and house of representa- 
tives, was reduced to ashes ; and the walls of these stately build- 
ings, blackened with smoke and in melancholy ruin, remained, 
for a time, the monuments of British barbarity. All the public 
buildings, with the exception of the patent office, shared the 
same fate. The public stores, vessels, and buildings at the navy 
yard, had been destroyed by order of government, to prevent 
them from falling into the enemy's hands. What remained was 
destroyed by the enemy, who took particular pains to mutilate 
the beautiful monument erected in honour of the naval heroes 
who fell at Tripoli. The plundering of private houses was not 



262 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

British retreat to their Shipping Plunder of Alexandria. 

carried on to the extent that might have been expected, proba- 
bly from the shortness of the time during which the British 
remained. On the evening of the following day, the 25th of 
Angust, they retreated from Washington. 

It being now conjectured that the enemy meant to proceed 
immediately to Baltimore, the inhabitants of that place were 
thrown into the greatest consternation, a feeling which the arri- 
val of the city militia from the field of battle was not likely to 
allay. Notwithstanding this disheartening panic, the citizens, 
rejecting all thoughts of capitulation, prepared themselves under 
generals Smith and Strieker, to oppose the enemy ; and in all 
probability, they would have made that desperate resistance 
which renders inexperienced troops, when fighting for their 
families and their homes, superior even to veterans. These mea- 
sures proved to be unnecessary however. General Ross returned 
over the same road by which he had advanced. He did not 
reach Benedict until the evening of the 27th ; and in such 
straggling confusion was this movement effected, that his troops 
wore the appearance of a vanquished rather than a victorious 
army. 

The squadron under captain Gordon, that division of the 
enemy's fleet which ascended the Potomac, and consisting of 
eight sail, passed Fort Warburton two days after the retreat of 
the British from Washington. The fort had been abandoned 
and blown up by captain Dyson, the commandant, in a most 
extraordinary manner ; probably under the influence of the 
dreadful panic which generally prevailed. His orders had 
been to abandon it only in case of an attack by land forces ; 
but on a mere rumour, and without waiting the enemy's ap- 
proach, he thought proper to take this measure. On the 29th> 
the squadron reached Alexandria ; and the inhabitants of that 
place, being completely in the power of the enemy, offered 
terms for the preservation of the town from conflagration and 
pillage. The insatiable avarice of the latter imposed the 
hardest conditions : all the merchandize then in the town, as 
well as all which had been removed thence since the 19th, was 
required to be put on board the shipping at the wharf, at the ex- 
pense of the inhabitants, and, together with the shipping, includ- 
ing those vessels which had been sunk on the approach of the 
enemy, and the public and private naval and ordnance stores, to 
be delivered up to the enemy. These terms, somewhat modified, 
were complied with ; and captain Gordon moved down the river 
with a fleet of prize vessels and a rich booty. In the mean- 
time, preparations had been hastily made by the naval heroes 
captains Porter and Perry, to throw difficulties in the way of 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 263 

Repulse of the British at Moors Fields . . . Resignation of the Secretary of War. 

his descent. The first, at the battery of the White House, 
was assisted by general Hungerford's brigade of Virginia 
militia, and captain Humphreys's rifle company ; and at the 
battery at Indian Head, captain Perry was supported by the 
brigade of general Stewart, and the volunteer companies of 
major Peter and captain Burch. From the 3d until the 6th 
of September, the British vessels were greatly annoyed in 
passing these batteries. Frequent attempts to destroy them 
were also made by commodore Rodgers, by means of small 
fire-vessels ; but, owing to a change of wind, they proved in- 
efTectual. These respective forces were afterwards concen- 
trated under commodore Rodgers, at Alexandria ; which place 
he determined to defend, should the enemy, who was not yet 
out of sight of the nearest battery, think proper to return. 

Sir Peter Parker, who ascended the Chesapeake, was not 
so fortunate as the other officers. He landed at night in the 
neighbourhood of Moors Fields, with the view of surprising a 
party of militia, encamped there under the command of colonel 
Reid. In this he was disappointed, for the militia, having heard 
the approach of the barges, were prepared to receive him. Sir 
Peter, having landed, moved forward at the head of about two 
hundred and fifty men, and, on approaching within seventy 
yards of the Americans, was received with a heavy fire. He 
endeavoured to press forward on the centre of the line ; but 
being foiled in this, he threw himself on the flank, where also 
he was repulsed. Colonel Reid, being informed that the am- 
munition was nearly expended, ordered his men to retire a 
small distance until they could procure a supply. In the mean- 
time, the British having sufTered severe loss, thought proper 
to retire ; carrying with them the wounded. Among the latter 
was sir Peter Parker, who died shortly afterwards, greatly 
lamented by his countrymen, and much respected by us. 

The capture of Washington excited the most painful sensa- 
tions throughout the United States ; and the indignation of the 
people, at first levelled against the whole administration, was 
soon concentrated on the secretary of war and general Winder. 
Against the former, the cry was every where so loud„ that the 
president, from motives of prudence, intimated to him the pro- 
priety of suspending his functions for a time. This his pride 
would not permit him to do ; and he therefore resigned. It 
appears, from the official letter of general Ross, since publish- 
ed, that he had not conceived the idea of attacking Washing- 
ton until within sixteen miles of it, and after he had received 
information of its defenceless state ; and that the destruction 
of commodore Barney's flotilla had been his real and sole ob- 



264 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

General Winder tried and acquitted .... Effect of the Capture of Washington. 

ject. It was, notwithstanding, an act of unparalleled rashness, 
and from which no commensurate advantage was to be gained. 
So great was the improbability of such an attempt, that the 
secretary at war, it is said, could not be persuaded, until the 
last moment, that it was seriously intended. General Winder 
demanded an examination of his conduct, and a court, of which 
general Scott was president, acquitted him honourably. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Sensations produced by the Capture of Washington in Europe and in England- 
Effect of this Event in tlie United States— Preparations for the Defence of Baltimore 
—Admiral Cochrane appears at the mouth of the Patapsco— Debarkation of the Brit- 
ish Troops at North Point— General Strieker marches from Baltimore to meet them— 
Battle of North Point— Death of General Ross— Retreat of the American Army- 
British Army appears before Baltimore— Bombardment of Fort M'Henry— Attack on 
Baltimore abandoned— British Fleet retires to the West Indies— Affairs on the North- 
ern Frontier— Invasion of the State of New York by the British under Sir George 
Prevost— Progress of the British impeded by General Macomb— British Army occu- 
pies Plattsburg opposite the American Works— Gallant Affair of Captain M'Glassin 
—British and American Fleets on Lake Champlain— Battle of Lake Champlain— 
Battle of Plattsburg— Defeat of the British Squadron and Capture of its principal 
Vessels— Retreat of the British Army from the American Territory. 



The capture of Washington was, at first, exulted in by the 
British ministry, as a most signal exploit ; but it was viewed 
in a very different light on the continent of Europe, and by 
the British nation at large. To say nothing of the prosecution 
of hostilities with augmented rigour during the negotiation of a 
treaty for peace, the acts of wanton barbarity which accompa- 
nied them aroused general indignation. In the British parlia- 
ment, so, great a sensation was excited, that the perpretrators 
were fain to shelter themselves from odium by the basest 
falsehoods, and the ministry stated that instructions had been 
sent to the coast of America to desist from further inflictions of 
vengeance. 

But if the effect was powerful abroad, it was overwhelming 
throughout the United States. Party spirit instantly vanished, 
and with it the dissensions which had almost paralyzed our 
efforts. But one voice was heard; a glorious union was 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 265 



Preparations for the defence of Baltimore. 



brought about ; and a nation of freemen was seen to rise in its 
strength. Those who had at first opposed the war on the 
ground of its impolicy, or who had condemned the invasion of 
Canada, now Adewed Great Britain only as a powerful nation 
about to precipitate her armies on the country, with the avowed 
intention of desolating its fairest portions. The dissensions 
of political parties had terminated with the political death of 
Napoleon ; and who could now say, that Britain was actuated 
by other than the mere thirst for revenge, or the less honour- 
able thirst for plunder? The war now came home to the 
interests and feelings of every man. The scenes of prepara- 
tion were the most animated that could be conceived. The 
whole country was in motion ; every town was a camp ; and the 
peaceful avocations of the citizens, which the war until now had 
scarcely interrupted, were laid aside. All the principal cities 
instituted their committees of defence ; and the whole of the 
population, to the sound of martial music, moved in bands to 
the daily occupation of labouring at the erection of intrench- 
ments and fortifications. 

The New England states, at first so averse to the war, now 
exhibited their characteristic activity and energy, and gave 
satisfactory proof that nothing was further from their intentions, 
than secession from the confederation. The governor of Ver- 
mont, who the year before had made an attempt to recall the 
militia of the state from the service of the United States, and 
on which occasion the militia nobly refused to obey him, now 
made ample atonement by promptly calling them forth. The. 
American ladies, always conspicuous for patriotic conduct in 
times of difficulty and danger, never appeared so lovely in their 
zeal for their country. 

The next object of attack, it was rightly conjectured, would 
be Baltimore ; and the cities of Philadelphia and New York 
awaited the result with as much anxiety as if their fate depended 
upon its successful issue. After the first moments of despond- 
ency occasioned by the capture of Washington had subsided 
in Baltimore, and it was discovered that the place would not 
be assailed immediately, the inhabitants set about making pre- 
parations for defence. A ditch was opened, and a breastwork 
thrown up by the inhabitants, on the high ground to the north- 
east of the city (to construct which all classes of the people 
united), so as completely to protect the town in the only quarter 
in which it was accessible by land forces. In the course of 
a few days, a considerable number of militia arrived from 
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the interior of Maryland ; and the 
spirits of the inhabitants were greatly animated by the presence 

X 



266 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Admiral Cochrane appears at the mouth of the Patapsco. 



of the naval veteran commodore Rodgers, who, with his ma 
rines, took possession of the heavy batteries on the hill above 
mentioned. A brigade of Virginia volunteers, and the regular 
troops, were assigned to general Winder ; and the City brigade 
was commanded by general Strieker ; tiie whole under the chief 
direction of major-general Smith. Of these, the two latter were 
distinguished revolutionary officers. The approach to the city 
by water was defended by Fort M'Menry, and garrisoned by 
about one thousand men, volunteers and regulars, under major 
Armistead. Two batteries upon the Patapsco, to the right of 
Fort M'Henry, to prevent the enemy from landing during the 
night in the rear of the town, were manned, the one by lieu- 
tenant Newcombe of the Guerriere, with a detachment of 
sailors ; the other, by lieutenant Webster, with men from 
Barney's flotilla. The former was called Fort Covington ; the 
latter, the City Battery. To the defence of Fort M'Henry, and 
to the repulse of the British from the lines, the inhabitants 
looked for safety. 

Independently of the pretexts which had already led to the 
scenes at Washington and Alexandria, the city of Baltimore 
was a selected object of the vengeance of the enemy, in conse- 
quence of her active and patriotic exertions during the war. No 
one could imagine to himself a just picture of the state of anxious 
feeling in which fifty thousand people awaited the issue of the 
event which should determine the safety or destruction of their 
city. Even in case of successful resistance, the most painful 
incertitude would, for a time, hang over the fate of those who 
had risked their lives in its defence. These latter were not 
strangers or mercenaries, but friends, brothers, sons, parents, 
and husbands ; for every one who could wield a musket, even 
old men and boys, was found in the ranks. The committee 
of safety, composed of those advanced in life and of the most 
influential citizens, (among whom was colonel Howard, a hero 
of the revolution) took a large share in the preparations to meet 
the approaching danger. 

The British army having re-embarked on board the fleet in 
the Patuxent, admiral Cochrane moved down the river and 
proceeded up the Chesapeake ; and, on the morning of the 11th 
of September, appeared at the mouth of the Patapsco, about 
fourteen miles from the city of Baltimore, with a fleet of ships 
of war and transports amounting to fifty sail. On the next day, 
the land forces, to the number of at least six thousand men, 
debarked at North Point, and, under the command of general 
Ross, took up their march for the city. General Strieker, who 
had claimed for the City brigade under his command the ho- 



HISTORY OF TITR WAR. CGT 



Debarkation of the British Troops at North Point. 



nour of being the first to meet the invader, was detached by 
general Smith, in anticipation of the landing of the British 
troops. On the 11th, general Strieker proceeded on the road 
to North Point, at the head of three thousand two hundred 
effective men : consisting of the Fifth regiment, under lieuten- 
ant-colonel Sterrett, five hundred and fifty strong ; six hundred 
and twenty of the Sixth, under lieutenant-colonel M'Donald ; 
five hundred of the Twenty-seventh, under lieutenant-colonel 
Long ; five hundred and fifty of the Thirty-ninth, under lieuten- 
ant-colonel Fowler ; seven hundred of the Fifty-first, under 
lieutenant colonel Amey ; one liundred and fifty riflemen, under 
captain Dyer ; one hundred and fifty cavalry, under lieutenant- 
colonel Biays ; and the Union Artillery, of seventj^-five men 
and six four-pounders, under captain Montgomery, attorney- 
general of the state. A corps of light riflemen and musketry, 
taken from general Stansbiiry's brigade, and the Pennsylvania 
volunteers, wei'e detached, under major Randall, to the mouth 
of Bear Creek, with orders to co-operate with general Strieker, 
and to check any landing which the enemy might effect in that 
quarter. 

At six o'clock P. M., general Strieker reached a meeting- 
house, near the head of Bear Creek, seven miles from the city. 
Here the brigade halted, with the exception of the cavalry, 
who moved forward to Gorsuch's farm three miles, and the 
riflemen, who took post near a blacksmith's shop, two miles 
in advance of the encampment. The following morning, the 
12th, at seven o'clock, information was received from the 
videttes, that the enemy were debarking troops under cover of 
their gun-vessels, which lay otTthe bluff of North Point, within 
the -mouth of the Patapsco river. The baggage was immedi- 
ately sent back under a strong guard ; and general Strieker 
ordered forward the Fifth and Twenty-seventh regiments, and 
the artillery, to the head of Long Log Lane, posting the Fifth 
with its right on the head of a branch of Bear Creek and its 
left on the main road, the Twenty-seventh on the opposite side 
of the road in a line with and to the left of the Fifth, and the 
artillery at the head of the lane, in the interval between the 
two regiments. The Thirty-ninth regiment was drawn up three 
hundred yards in the rear of the Twenty-seventh, and the Fifty- 
first at the same interval in the rear of the Fifth. The Sixth 
regiment was kept as a reserve within sight, at the distance of 
half a mile in the rear of the second line. Thus judiciously 
posted, the general determined to wait an attack, having first 
given orders, that the two regiments composing the front line, 
if compelled to fall back, should retire through the Fifty-first 



26a BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Battle of North Point Death of General Ross. 



and Thirty-ninth, and form on the right of the Sixth, posted, as 
already stated, in reserve. 

General Strieker now learned, from the cavalry, vi^ho ac- 
cording to orders had retreated, that the British were moving 
rapidly up the road ; but at the moment when he expected their 
approach to be announced and impeded by the riflemen stationed 
in the low thick pine and firs in advance, greatly to his chagrin, 
he discovered that they were falling back upon the main posi- 
tion, under a groundless apprehension that the enemy had land- 
ed on Back river to cut them off. This part of the general's 
plan having been frustrated, he placed the riflemen on the right 
of -his front line, and by this means better secured that flank. 
The videttes soon after bringing information that a i>arty of 
the enemy were carousing in a careless manner at Gorsuch's 
farm, several of the officers offered their services to dislodge 
them. Captains Levering and Howard's companies, from the 
Fifth regiment, about one hundred and fifty in number, under 
major Heath ; captain Aisquith's and a few other riflemen, in all 
about seventy ; and a small piece of artillery and some cavalry, 
under lieutenant Stiles, were sent forward to chastise the inso- 
lence of the enemy's advance, and to evince a wish on the part 
of the American army to engage. The detachment had scarcely 
proceeded half a mile, when it suddenly came in contact with 
the main body of the enemy. In the skirmish which ensued, 
major Heath's horse was shot under him, and several of the 
Americans were killed and wounded ; while the enemy lost their 
commander-in-chief, major general Ross. This officer, wlio 
had imprudently advanced too far, for the purpose of recon- 
noitering, was killed by one of the company of captain Howard. 
After the death of general Ross, the command devolved on colonel 
Brooke, who continued to advance notwithstanding this occur- 
rence. The American detachment now fell back ; and general 
Strieker, perceiving the companies of Howard and Leverin.^ 
to be too much fatigued to share in the approaching conflict, 
ordered them to attach themselves to the reserve. At half 
past two o'clock, the enemy commenced throwing rockets, 
which did no injury ; and immediately captain Montgomery\s 
artillery opened a fire upon them, which they returned by i\ 
six-pounder and a howitzer directed upon the left and centre. 
The fire was brisk for some minutes, when general Strieker, 
with a view of bringing the enemy within canister distance, 
ordered it to cease on the American side. Perceiving that the 
efforts of the British were chiefly directed against the left flank, 
he now ordered up the Thirty-ninth regiment into line v/itli 
and on the left of the Twenty-seventh. Two pieces of artil- 



IIISTOia OF THK WAR. 2G9 



Battle of North Point Retreat of the American Army. 



lery were also detached to the left of the Thirty-ninth ; and 
in order more completely to protect this flank, colonel Amey 
was ordered to form his regiment, the Fifty-first, at right angles 
with the line, with his right resting on the left of the Thirtv- 
ninth. This movement was badly executed, and caused some 
confusion in that quarter, which however was immediately rec- 
tified. 

The enemy's right column now advanced upon the Twenty- 
seventh and Thirty-ninth regiments. Unfortunately, at this 
juncture, the Fifty-first regiment, in a sudden panic, after deli- 
vering one volley at random, broke and retreated in confusion, 
occasioning the same disorder in the second battalion of the 
Thirty-ninth. The fire on the enemy by this time became ge- 
neral from right to left ; and the artillery poured an incessant 
and destructive stream upon the enemy V left column. Tlic latter 
endeavoured to shelter itself behind a loghouse, which soon 
after burst into a blaze ; captain Sadtler of the Fifth regiment, 
who had previously occupied it, having taken the precaution to 
fire it, before he and his yagers abandoned it. About ten 
minutes past three, the British line came on with a rapid dis- 
charge of musketry, which was well returned by the Fifth and 
the Twenty-seventh regiments, and the first battalion of the 
Thirty-ninth regiment. The fire was incessant from this time 
until about twenty-five minutes before four o'clock, during 
which period general Strieker gallantly contended against four 
times his numbers. Finding, however, that the unequal con- 
test could be maintained no longer, and that the enemy were 
about to outflank him, he was compelled to retire upon his re- 
serve, a movement which he eflected in good order. At the 
point occupied by this regiment he formed his brigade, and falling 
back, took post half a mile in advance of the intrenchments for 
the defence of the city. Here he was joined by general Winder, 
who had been stationed on the west side of the city, but was 
now ordered, with general Douglass's Virginia brigade and 
captain Bird's United States dragoons, to take post on the left 
of general Strieker. The enemy encamped for the night on 
the ground where the battle had been fought, without attempt- 
ing a pursuit. 

The conduct of the Baltimore brigade, Vv^ith the exception of 
the Fifty-first regiment and the second battalion of the Thirty- 
ninth, who were seized with the panic to which raw troops are 
so much subject, deserved the highest praise : veterans could 
not have done more. Their loss in killed and wounded, amount 
ed to one hundred and sixty-three, among whom were some 
of the most respectable citizens of Baltimore. Adjutant Jamea 

X* 



270 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

British Army appears before Baltimore. 

Lowry Donaldson, of the Twenty-seventh regiment, an emi- 
nent lawyer, was killed in the hottest of the fight ; majors 
Heath and Moore, and a number of other officers, were 
wounded. The loss of the British was nearly double that of 
the Americans, according to their own acknowledgment, and 
probably was much greater in reality. In their official state- 
ments they computed the American force at six thousand, a 
great proportion regulars, and the loss at one thousand ; data 
from which we may infer their opinion of the manner in which 
they were received. 

Among those who distinguished themselves in the battle of 
North Point, lieutenant-colonel Sterrett ; majors Heath and 
Barry of the Fifth regiment; captain Spangler of the York 
(Pennsylvania) volunteers ; adjutant Cheston, who was slightly 
wounded ; lieutenant-colonel Long of the Twenty-seventh regi- 
ment, which " was unsurpassed in bravery, resolution and en- 
thusiasm ;" lieutenant-colonel Fowler and major Steriger of the 
Thirty-ninth regiment, and the volunteer companies attached 
to it ; captain Quantril from Hagerstown, and captain Metzgar 
from Hanover, Pennsylvania, the former of whom was 
wounded ; captain Montgomery ; brigade-majors Calhoun and 
Fraily ; and major George P. Stevenson, aid to general 
Strieker, were highly and most deservedly complimented in 
general orders. Majors Moore and Robinson, of the Twenty- 
seventh regiment, were also conspicous for their activity and 
gallantry throughout the engagement. 

The result of this affair, together with the death of the British 
general, served to cheer the spirits of the militia, and inspire 
confidence. The brigades of general Stansbury and Foreman ; 
the seamen and marines under commodore Rodgers ; the Penn- 
sylvania volunteers, under colonels Cobean and Findlay ; 
the Baltimore artillery under colonel Harris ; and the marine 
artillery under captain Stiles, manned the trenches and battery, 
and in this situation spent the night under arms. The enemy 
made his appearance early the next day to the east of the 
intrenchments, at the distance of two miles, whence he had a 
full view of the position of the Americans. During the morn- 
ing, by his manoeuvres to the right, he seemed to show an in- 
tention of coming down by the Harford and York roads ; to baffle 
which design ^generals Winder and Strieker adapted their move- 
ments. At noon the British concentrated their force in front of 
the American line, approached within a mile of the intrench- 
ments, and made arrangements for an attack that evening. 
General Smith, therefore, immediately drew generals Winder 
and Strieker nearer to the right of the enemy, and ordered theirj 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 271 



Bombardment of Fort M'Henry. 



lo fall upon his flank or rear, in case he should make the 
attempt. 

In the meantime, the naval attack had already commenced. 
The fleet, after landing the troops, as before mentioned, pro- 
ceeded to bombard Fort M'Henry, which commands the entrance 
of the harbour. On the 13th, about sunrise, the British had 
brought sixteen ships within two miles and a half of the fort. 
Major Armistead arranged his force in the following manner: the 
regular artillerists under captain Evans, and the volunteer artil- 
lerists under captain Nicholson, manned the bastions in the star 
fort ; captains Bunbury, Addison, Rodman, Berry and lieuten- 
ant-commandant Pennington's commands, were stationed on 
the lower works ; and the infantry under lieutenant-colonel 
Stewart and major Lane were in the outer ditch, to meet the 
enemy, should he make an attempt to land. The assault com- 
menced from five bomb-vessels, which had anchored at the 
distance of two miles. Thence, finding themselves within 
striking distance, and at the same time out of the reach of the 
guns of the fort, they maintained an incessant bombardment. 
The situation of the garrison was painfully inactive and highly 
perilous ; and yet every man stood to his post without shrink- 
ing. One of the twenty-four pounders, on the south-west 
bastion, under captain Nicholson, was dismounted, killing his 
second lieutenant and wounding several of his men. The 
enemy now approaching somewhat nearer, a tremendous fire 
was instantly opened from the fort, which compelled him pre- 
cipitately to return to his former position. The bombardment 
was kept up during the whole day and night. The city, as- 
sailed on both sides, awaited the result with wakeful silence : 
when suddenly, about midnight, a tremendous cannonade was 
heard in the direction of the besieged fort ; and the affrighted 
population believed that all was over. Their fears, however, 
were happily soon quieted. Some barges of the enemy, having 
passed Fort M'Henry unobserved, had made an unsuccessful 
attempt to land a body of troops ; and after suffering immense 
loss from the guns of the City Battery and Fort Covington, had 
hastily retired. At seven o'clock next morning, the 14th, the 
bombardment of the fort terminated, after upwards of fifteen 
hundred shells had been thrown, a large portion of which burst 
over the fort, scattering their fragments amongst its defenders 
and materially injuring several of the buildings. The personal 
damage sustained was, nevertheless, inconsiderable. Only four 
were killed, and twenty-four wounded : among the former, 
lieutenant Clagget and sergeant Clemm, of captain Nicholson's 
volunteers, greatly lamented by their fellow-citizens for their 



272 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Attack on Baltimore abandoned British FJeet retires to the West Indies. 

personal bravery and high private standing ; and of the latter, 
lieutenant Russel, a gentleman of the Baltimore bar, of Pen- 
nington's company, who nobly persisted in continuing at his 
post during the whole attack. See Engraving, P^g^ 223 ante. 

In the course of the night of the 13th, admiral Cochrane had 
held a conference with colonel Brooke, the commander of the 
land forces, at which it was mutually agreed to relinquish the 
enterprise as impracticable. The retreat of the army com- 
menced immediately, and was highly favoured by the extreme 
darkness and the continued rain ; while the uninterrupted 
continuance of the bombardment of Fort M'Henry served to 
divert the attention of the Americans. In the meantime, along 
the American lines ten thousand men waited the approach of 
day with much anxiety ; and there is every reason to believe, 
that they would have repelled the enemy with great loss, had 
he made an attack. When day dawned, however, it was dis- 
covered that he had disappeared. General Winder, with the 
Virginia brigade, captain Bird's dragoons, major Randal's light 
corps and all the cavalry, was immediately detached in pur- 
suit of him : but so exhausted were the troops with conti- 
nued watching, having been under arms during three days and 
nights, exposed the greater part of the time to very inclement 
weather, that it was found impossible to do any thing more 
than pick up a few stragglers. Besides, the time which had 
elapsed since the commencement of the retreat of the enemy, 
had given them an opportunity of protecting their embarkation 
in such a manner as effectually to secure their rear. The 
troops were taken on board in the evening of the same day ; 
and on the morning of the following day, the 15th, the British 
fleet descended the bay. 

The intelligence of this happy event was received in the 
neighbouring cities with demonstrations of rapturous joy. But 
a moment before, the popular dismay appeared to have reached 
its acme, and the most gloomy anticipations were indulged ; 
for all the larger towns, equally with Baltimore, were threat- 
ened with devastation. The feelings of the inhabitants of the 
city itself, can with difficulty be conceived. Measures were 
taken to celebrate the occurrence, and to reward those who 
held distinguished commands. To such as fell in the sacred 
cause of the defence of their families and homes, a monument, 
to be erected in the centre of the city, was decreed. Admi- 
ral Cochrane, afler the failure of this attempt on Baltimore, 
retired with all his fleet and the land forces to the West Indies, 
with the view of awaiting the arrival of reinforcements from 
England ; and not only abandoned the idea for the present of 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 273 



Affairs on the Northern Frontier British invade the State of New York. 

attacking any other of our cities or larger towns, but also 
withdrew all the parties which had been engaged in marauding 
expeditions into the country along the coast. 

Meanwhile events, resulting in successes of the most brilliant 
character, had transpired on the northern frontier. While 
admiral Cochrane was threatening the sea-coast with devasta- 
tion, at the request, as he stated, of sir George Prevost ; this 
officer, who was invading the United States in another quar- 
ter, held very different language. While he could direct the 
British forces to the south to lay waste and destroy (if he 
really ever gave such directions), he was a great stickler for 
generous and honourable warfare on the borders of Canada, 
and was careful to issue orders of the most conciliatory kind. 
On entering the state of New York, in honeyed language " he 
makes known to its peaceable and unoffending inhabitants, that 
they have no cause of alarm, from this invasion of their coun- 
try, for the safety of themselves and families, or for the secu- 
rity of their property. He explicitly assures them, that as 
long as they continue to demean themselves peaceably, they 
shall be protected in the quiet possession of their homes, and 
permitted freely to pursue their various occupations. It is 
against the government of the United States, by whom this 
unjust and unprovoked war has been declared, and against those 
who support it, either openly or secretly, that the arms of his 
majesty are directed. The quiet and unoffending inhabitants, 
not found in arms, or otherwise aiding in hostilities, shall 
meet with kind usage and generous treatment ; and all just 
complaints against any of his majesty's subjects, offering vio- 
lence to them, to their families or to their possessions, shall 
be immediately redressed." There is nothing said of retalia- 
tion, nor the slightest hint that hostilities had not been con- 
ducted, on the part of the Americans, according to the usages 
of war. With these fair words, sir George led his army on 
Plattsburg, in the state of New York, about the beginning of 
September, while the British fleet, under captain Downie, pro- 
ceeded up Lake Champlain on his lefl. 

Preparations of the most extensive description had been made 
for this invasion. Transports with troops had been continually 
arriving at Quebec from England, during the months of July and 
August ; so that, at the time when sir George Prevost entered 
the American territory, his army was fourteen thousand strong, 
among whom were large bodies of veterans who had distin- 
guished themselves under Wellington. The force consisted 
of three brigades and a corps of reserve, each commanded by 
a major-general of experience ; a squadron of light dragoons ; 



274 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Progress of the British impeded by General Macomb. 



and an immense train of artillery. The expedition had in view 
an object more important than that of a mere inroad. The 
defeat and destruction of the American army, then lying in the 
neighbourhood of Platisburg ; the subjugation of the country as 
far as Crowrr Point and Ticonderoga, for the purpose of securing 
a strong position in which to winter; and ultimately, in co-opera- 
tion with an army which was to invade New York or Con- 
necticut from the sea, the separation of the New England states 
from the union by the line of the river Hudson, were the 
results at which sir George Prevost, under the express direc- 
tions of the British Prince Regent, was ordered to aim. 

After general Izard had marched for the Niagara, the force 
left at Plattsburg under general Macomb did not exceed fifteen 
hundred regulars, and consisted chiefly of invalids and new re- 
cruits ; and of these there was but one battalion properly organ- 
ized. The fortifications were slight, and the stores and ord- 
nance in great disorder. The British took possession of the 
village of Champlain on the 3d of September ; and, from the 
proclamations and the impressments of wagons and teams in 
this vicinity, it was soon discovered that the immediate object 
■>f attack was Plattsburg. Not a minute was lost in placing the 
works in a state of defence. In order to create emulation and 
zeal among the officers and men, they were divided into de- 
tachments, and stationed in the several forts ; and the general 
declared, in orders, that each detachment was the garrison of 
its own work, and bound to defend it to the last extremity. At 
the same time, he called on general Mooers, of the New York 
militia, and with him adopted measures for calling them out 
en masse. With the exception of a ihw men and some boys, 
who formed themselves into a company, received rifles and 
were exceedingly useful, the inhabitants of Plattsburg, with 
their families and effects, fled from the town. 

General Mooers, having collected about seven hundred 
militia, advanced, on the 4th of the month, seven miles on the 
Beekmantown road, to watch the motions of the enemy and 
skirmish with them as they approached, and at the same time 
to obstruct the road by breaking down the bridges and felling 
trees. Captain Sprowl, with two hundred men of the Thir- 
teenth regiment, who was posted at Dead Creek bridge, on 
the lake, or more eastern, road, also with similar objects, was 
ordered to fortify himself with two field pieces sent with him 
for the purpose, and to receive further instructions from lieute- 
nant-colonel Appling. In advance of this position, the latter 
officer, with one hundred riflemen, was reconnoitering the 
movements of the enemy. At daylight on the 6th, the enemy 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 275 

British Army occupies Plattsburg opposite the American Works. 

were seen advancing, by these roads, in two columns ; the 
column on the Beekmantovvn road approaching more rapidly 
than the other. General Mooers's militia skirmished a little 
with its advance parties, but, with the exception of a few brave 
men, soon broke, and fled in the greatest disorder. A detach- 
ment of two hundred and fifty regulars, under major Wool, 
which had marched to their support, could not succeed in re- 
storing them to confidence. 

General Macomb, finding that the enemy's object, in making 
so much more rapid a march on the western than the lake road, 
was to cut off the detachments of captain Sprowl and colonel 
Appling, despatched orders to the latter officer to withdraw the 
troops, make a junction with major Wool, and then attack the 
enemy's right flank. Wliile in compliance with this order, 
colonel Appling fell in with the head of a column of the enemy 
sent to cut him off; and had they made this movement an 
instant earlier, he must inevitably have been taken prisoner. 
As he retreated, he poured a destructive fire on them from 
his riflemen, and continued to annoy them until he formed a 
junction with major Wool. The column of the enemy on the 
lake road, notwithstanding that considerable execution had 
been done by captain Sprowl's two field pieces, and although 
impeded in its advance by the fallen trees and the destruction 
of the bridge over Dead Creek, as well as harassed by a gall- 
ing fire from some gun-boats and galleys anchored in the creek, 
still continued to press forward. 

The village of Plattsburg stands on the north side of the small 
river Saranac, near its entrance into Lake Champlain ; and the 
American works were situated on the southern side, directly 
opposite. The town being no longer tenable, owing to its 
occupation by the enemy, the parties of Appling, Wool and 
Sprowl, which had contested the advance of their opponents 
step by step, retreated within the American works in good 
order, keeping up a brisk fire until they got under cover. Gen- 
eral Macomb now directed the passage over the bridge on the 
Saranac to be destroyed. This order was not executed without 
some difficulty, as the enemy had thrown their light troops into 
the houses near the bridge, and annoyed the Americans with 
their small shot from the windows and balconies. They were 
at length dislodged by a discharge of hot shot which set the 
buildings on fire. Throughout the day attempts were made 
by the British to obtain possession of the several bridges over 
the river ; but they were unsuccessful in every instance. As 
soon as the whole of the American troops had gained the south- 
ern banks of the river, the planks of the bridges had been taken 



276 BRACKENRIDGE'3 

Captain M'Glassin British and American Fleets on Lake Champlain. 

up, and placed in the form of breastworks ; and behind these the 
men charged with the defence of the passages firmly resisted 
the advances of the enemy. 

The enemy, now masters of the village, instead of attempt- 
ing to storm the American works on the opposite side of the 
river, which their vast superiority of force might have enabled 
them to do, contented themselves with erecting batteries and 
throwing up breastworks, and with frequent attempts to carry 
the bridges and cross at the fords. In the meanwhile, the 
main body of the British army arrived ; and general Macomb 
was reinforced by a considerable body of New York militia, 
and of volunteers from the mountains of Vermont. There was 
now scarcely any intermission to the skirmishes which took 
place between detachments of the enemy, and the American 
militia and volunteers ; while the former were getting up a 
train of battering cannon, and the American regulars were 
labouring incessantly in strengthening and extending their 
works. During this time a handsome affair was achieved by 
captain M'Glassin, who, crossing the river in the night, assailed 
a guard of British regulars of more than three times his num- 
bers, stationed at a masked battery which had been for some 
days preparing, and which, when completed, would have given 
incalculable annoyance, drove them from their post, and de- 
molished the battery. He returned to the American camp with 
the loss of only three men missing. For this gallant action 
he received the public thanks of his general, and the brevet rank 
of major from the president of the United States. 

On the morning of the 11th of September, the fifth day of 
the siege, the motives which induced the British general to 
delay his assault upon the American works became apparent. 
Relying on his ability to carry them, however they might be 
strengthened and fortified, he had awaited the arrival of the 
British fleet, in the belief that, with its co-operation, he could 
make an easy conquest not only of the American army, but also 
of their fleet on Lake Champlain, then lying at anchor in 
Cumberland Bay, in front of the town of Plattsburg. On that 
day the British fleet, consisting of the frigate Confiance, car- 
rying thirty-nine guns, twenty-seven of which were twenty- 
four pounders ; the brig Linnet, of sixteen guns ; the sloops 
Chub and Finch, each carrying eleven guns ; and thirteen galleys, 
five of which carried two guns, and the remainder one gun, each, 
was seen coming round Cumberland Head. The American 
fleet, under commodore M'Donough, comprised the Saratoga, 
carrying twenty-six guns, eight of which were long twenty- 
four pounders ; the Eagle, of twenty guns ; the Ticonderoga, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 277 



Battle of Lake Champlain Battle of Plattsburg. 



of seventeen ; the Preble, seven ; and ten galleys, six carrying 
two guns, and the remainder one gun. Besides the advantage 
which the enemy possessed in being able to choose their posi- 
tion, their force was much superior. The number of guns in 
the British fleet amounted to ninety-five, and of men, to upwards 
of a thousand ; while the Americans had only eighty-six guns, 
and eight hundred and twenty men. One of the American ves- 
sels had been built with almost incredible despatch : eighteen 
days before, the trees of which it was constructed were actually 
growing on the shores of the lake. 

The American vessels were moored in line, with five gun- 
boats or galleys on each flank. At nine o'clock, A. M., imme- 
diately on getting round Cumberland Head, captain Downie, 
the British commander, anchored in line abreast of the Ameri- 
can squadron, and at about three hundred yards distance. The 
Confiance, captain Downie's own vessel, was opposed to the 
Saratoga, M'Donough's vessel ; the Linnet to the Eagle ; the 
British galleys and one of their sloops, to the Ticonderoga, the 
Preble and the left division of the American galleys ; their other 
sloop was opposed to the galleys on the right. 

In this situation the whole force on both sides became en- 
gaged ; and at the same moment, as if the firing of the first gun 
from the Confiance had been the signal, the contest commen- 
ced between general Macomb and Sir George Prevost. One 
of the British sloops was soon thrown out of the engagement 
by running on a reef of rocks whence she could not be extri- 
cated, while several of their galleys were so roughly handled 
as to be compelled to pull out of the way. But the fate of 
this interesting battle, in which the two competitors for naval 
superiority were for the second time matched in squadron, 
depended chiefly on the result of the engagement between the 
two largest ships. The American commodore had now main- 
tained the unequal contest for two hours ; and notwithstanding 
the greater weight of the enemy's battery seemed to incline the 
scale of victory in his favour, he suffered prodigiously. The 
chances against the Saratoga were accidentally increased by the 
commander of the Eagle, who, being unable to bring his guns to 
bear as he wished, cut his cable, and, anchoring between the 
Ticonderoga and Saratoga, exposed the latter vessel to a galling 
fire from the enemy's brig the Linnet. The guns on the starboard 
side of the Saratoga were, by this time, either dismounted or en- 
tirely unmanageable, and the situation of the enemy was little bet- 
ter : to each the fortune of the day depended upon the execution 
of one of the most difficult of naval manoeuvres, that of winding 
the vessel round, and bringing a new broadside to bear. The 

Y 



278 BRACKENiUDGE'S 



Defeat of the British Squadron Retreat of the British Army. 

Confiance essayed it in vain, but the efforts of the Saratoga 
were successful : a stern anchor being put on and the bower 
cable cut, the ship winded round. A fresh broadside was 
now brought to bear on the enemy's frigate ; which, shortly 
all:er its delivery, surrendered. No sooner had the Confiance 
surrendered, than the Saratoga's broadside was sprung to bear 
upon the Linnet, which struck its flag fifteen minutes after- 
wards. One sloop had struck to the Eagle some time before ; 
and the Ticonderoga caused the surrender of the remaining 
sloop. Three of the galleys were sunk ; the ten others escaped. 
By the time this desperate contest was over, there was scarcely 
a mast in either squadron capable of bearing a sail, and the 
greater part of the vessels were in a sinking state. There 
were fifty-five round shot in the hull of the Saratoga, and in the 
Confiance one hundred and five. The Saratoga was twice set 
on fire by hot shot. O^ the crew of the Confiance, fifty were 
killed, and sixty wounded ; among the former was captain Dow- 
nie. On board the Saratoga, there were twenty-eight killed, of 
whom lieutenant Gamble was one, and twenty-nine wounded. 
Lieutenant Stansbury, of the Ticonderoga, son of general Stans- 
bury of Maryland, lost his life; and lieutenant Smith, acting 
lieutenant Spencer and midshipman Baldwin were among the 
wounded. The total loss in the American squadron amounted 
to fifty-two killed, and fifly-eight wounded. The enemy had 
eighty-four killed, and one hundred and ten wounded. The 
action lasted two hours and twenty minutes. 

This engagement, so deeply interesting and on the result of 
which so much was at stake, took place in sight of the hostile 
armies. But they were by no means quiet spectators of the 
scene : a tremendous cannonade was kept up during the whole 
time, and the air was filled with bombs, rockets and hot balls. 
Three desperate efforts were made by the British to cross the 
river and storm the American works, in which they were as 
often repulsed with considerable loss. Their ardour, however 
naturally abated, after witnessing the painful sight, so little ex- 
pected, of the capture of nearly their whole fleet. Although 
the firing was kept up until dark, the plans of sir George Pre- 
vost were completely frustrated. Now that the Americans had 
the command of Lake Champlain, the possession of their works 
on the land could not serve him in any further design ; and in 
the meantime, he was exposed to danger which increased with 
the hourly augmentation of the American force. He deter- 
mined therefore to raise the siege. Under cover of the night 
he sent off all the baggage and artillery for which he could 
obtain means of transportation ; and precipitately followed with 



HISTORY OF THE WAR 281 



Retreat of the British Army from the American Territory. 



all his forces, leaving behind him the sick and wounded. At 
daybreak of the 12th, when this movement was discovered, he 
was pursued by the Americans. They captured some strag- 
glers, and covered the escape of a great number of deserters ; 
but were prevented by bad weather from continuing the pur- 
suit beyond Chazy, a distance of fourteen miles from Platts- 
burg. The loss of the British in killed, wounded and missing 
was about fifteen hundred men : of the Americans, thirty-seven 
killed, sixty-two wounded and twenty missing. Vast quanti- 
ties of provisions, ammunition and implements of war, which 
the enemy had not time to take with them or destroy, fell into 
the hands of the Americans, in the course of the day ; and the' 
amount was greatly increased by what were afterwards found 
hidden in marshes, or buried in the ground. Promotions of 
all who distinguished themselves on this glorious day immedi- 
ately took place : at the head of the list were general Macomb 
and commodore M'Donough. 

Those of the British army and navy who fell, were interred 
with the honours of war. The humane attention of the Ame- 
ricans to the wounded, and their generous politeness to the 
prisoners, were acknowledged in grateful terms by captain 
Pryng, the successor of captain Downie, in his official despatch 
to the British admiralty. 

Thus was this portentous invasion most happily repelled ; 
another of our inland seas made glorious in all coming time ; 
and the " star-spangled banner " waved in triumph over the 
waters of Champlain, as over those of Erie and Ontario. The 
lakes, those noble features of our great continent, are now 
viewed with an interest which is associated with, and heightened 
by, the recollections of victories won from powerful enemies 
in the assertion of our rights. 



282 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Unanimity of Sentiment in Congress Negotiations with Great Britain. 



CHAPTER XX. 



Unanimity of Sentiment in Congress— Negotiations with Great Britain— British 
Sine dua Non — Hartford Convention— Mr. Biddle's Report in the Legislature of Penn- 
Bylvania— Removal of the Seat of Government from Washington agitated— Mr. Dal- 
las appointed Secretary of the Treasury— Improvement in our Finances— Affairs to 
the Southward — Attack on Fort Bowyer most gallantly repulsed — Inroad into Flori- 
da, and Capture of Pensacola, by General Jackson — Invasion of Louisiana meditated 
by the British— Preparations for Resistance— Arrival of General Jackson at New 
Orleans— His Presence inspires Confidence— British Fleet arrives off the Coast- 
Capture of the American Gun-Boats— Martial Law proclaimed by General Jackson 
— The Pirate Lafitte — British Forces land within seven Miles of New Orleans — Bat- 
tle of the 23d of December — Results of the Battle— General Jackson encamps, and fiar- 
tifies himself— Affairs of the 28th of December, and 1st of January, 1815 — Position of 
the American Troops — British prepare to storm the American Works on both sides 
of the Mississippi — Memorable Battle of the 8th of January — Death of General Pack- 
enham — Defeat and Terrible Carnage of the British on the Left Bank of the River — 
Americans driven from their Intrenchments on the Right Bank — Louisiana evacu- 
ated by the British— Unsuccessful Bombardment of Fort St. Philip by the British — 
Depredations of Admiral Cockburn along the Southern Coast— Peace with Great Bri- 
tain—Terms of the Treaty— Conclusion. 

The national legislature convened, near the close of the year 
1814, with feelings very different from those which had existed 
in that body for many years previous. Party spirit, it is true, still 
glowed beneath its ashes ; but whatever variety of sentiment 
might prevail with respect to the past, and as to the men in power, 
there was but little as to the course to be pursued in future. The 
accusation of being subject to French influence could no longer 
be brought against the administration ; the war had now become 
a war of defence ; and the recent conduct of the British govern- 
ment rendered it impossible for any one to say that she was not 
wantonly pursuing hostilities. 

The whole country felt the neglect with which Great Britain 
had treated our ministers in Europe. Suffering them at first 
to remain for months unnoticed, and afterwards shifting the 
place of negotiation, she had endeavoured, with a duplicity un- 
becoming a great nation, to prolong, for half a year, a treaty 
which might have been accomplished in a day. But when the 
first occurrence which took place on the meeting of the British 
and American commissioners was made known, it produced 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 283 

Negotiations with Great Britain British Sine Qua Non. 

a burst of indignation from all parties, both on the floor of 
congress and throughout the union. It was now thought that 
ail hopes of peace were at an end, and the people began to 
prepare their minds for a long and bloody war. In the in- 
structions which they had received, our commissioners were 
authorized to pass the subject of impressment in silence for the 
present. By the pacification of Europe, the motives which 
had induced Great Britain to resort to impressment, no longer 
existed — the practice had ceased with its alleged necessity. 
The subject of blockade, by the fall of Napoleon, was also at 
an end ; and could not be permitted to stand in the way of ne- 
gotiations for peace. In fact there was nothing in controversy 
between the two nations : and a war which had crown out of 
the war m Europe, and the injuries inflicted upon us by the 
English and French belligerents, came naturally to a conclusion 
when peace was restored to Europe. 

Perhaps our government was censurable for manifesting this 
great anxiety for peace ; perhaps we ought never to have yield- 
ed, until some provision had been made by the enemy to pre- 
vent the future recurrence of the detestable abuses inseparable 
from the practice of impressing her seamen from our vessels. 
But the nation at this moment required peace ; we had suffered 
much from our inexperience during this first war; and a few years 
of repose would enable us to vindicate our rights with greater 
hope of success. It was reasonable to conclude that Great 
Britain, by this time, felt that she had paid dearly for the im- 
pressment of Americans and the confiscation of their property, 
and that hereafter she would be cautious of seizing the persons, 
or interfering with the commerce of our citizens. Besides, a war 
is seldom so successful as to enable the victor to wring from his 
enemy an acknowledgement of his wrong : it is by the resistance 
made, and the injury inflicted, that its object is attained. The 
smcere wish of the American government for peace was not 
met in a corresponding spirit by the British commissioners. 
The latter proposed at once, as a sine qua non, the surrender 
of an immense portion of the American territory, and a total 
relinquishment of the lake shores. These new and unwarrant- 
able pretensions excited universal astonishment. Could it be 
supposed that the English commissioners would descend to the 
trifling artifice of prolonging the negotiation by proposing terms 
from which they meant to recede ? Could they, consistently 
with the dignity of their nation, recede from them? If seriously 
made, such proposals argued either a surprising ignorance of 
the situation of the United States, or a disposition to insult our 
government in the grossest manner. 



284 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Hartford Conveulion Removal of the Seat of Government agitated. 

A subject which was brought before the legislature of Penn 
sylvania furnished a strong proof of the general disposition to 
unite in the cause of the country. The leaders of the party in 
the New England states opposed to the war, had grown every 
day more and more intemperate, while the great mass of the 
population of those districts, on the contrary, was becoming 
better reconciled to it. Under a mistaken idea of the real sen- 
timents of the people, it was suggested that a convention, to 
consist of delegates from the different stales composing New 
England, should meet at Hartford, in Connecticut. Its object, 
according to rumour, was no less than a discussion of the pro- 
priety of a dismemberment of the union. Whatever were the 
views of its projectors, the proposal was not received with 
much favour. Deputies from only three states, representing 
scarcely a third of New England, convened ; and a short session 
terminated in the adoption of a declamatory address on subjects 
now nearly forgotten, and a remonstrance or memorial to the 
congress of the United States, enumerating some objections to 
the federal constitution. 

This extraordinary paper was submitted to the legislatures 
of the several states for their approbation, and was rejected by 
them all. In the legislature of Pennsylvania, it was referred 
to a committee ; and a noble and eloquent report on the subject 
was drawn up by a member of the opposition, (Mr. Biddle, now 
President of the Bank of the United States,) in which the causes 
of complaint set forth were clearly refuted, the constitution of 
the union was ably vindicated, and the conduct of the memo- 
rialists severely censured. Let it be the warm prayer of every 
American, that the confederacy of the states, a fabric reared 
by the hands of sages and cemented by the blood of patriots, 
may be eternal. How much bloodshed has it not saved already, 
and how much will it not save in future 1 Let us place before 
our eyes the eternal wars of the Grecian states ; and learn 
from them, that independent powers immediately adjacent to 
each other are natural enemies. What strength does not this 
glorious union give to each individual state ! and what conse- 
quence does it confer on each individual citizen, who is there- 
by made the member of a great nation, instead of being one of 
a petty tribe ' Let us hope that no unhappy jealousies, no irre- 
concilable interests, may arise to break in sunder the bonds by 
which we are united ! 

Another important matter was brought before congress 
during the present session. The destruction of the public 
buildings of Washington by the British afforded an opportunity 
to the opponents oi" that place as the seat of government, to 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 285 

Mr. Dallas appointed Secretary of the Treasury Affairs to the Southward. 

advocate the selection of another site ; and serious apprehen- 
sions were entertained that their views would prevail. But 
these fears, and the subject which gave rise to them, were soon 
put to rest. Veneration for the great father of our republic 
exercised a successful influence ; and the city of Washington 
is now destined for ages, and it is hoped for ever, to be the 
metropolis of the United States. 

Our finances at this critical moment appeared to revive, 
under the indefatigable industry and great abihties of Mr. Dallas, 
whom the President selected to fill the post of secretary of the 
treasury. His plans were characterized by the greatest bold- 
ness, but were unfolded in so luminous a manner as to carry- 
conviction to every mind. He may be said to have plucked 
up the sinking credit of the nation by the locks. At the same 
time, the duties of the secretary of war, in addition to his other 
avocations, were discharged by Mr. Monroe. In undertaking 
this office, he exhibited no small courage ; for it had become 
a forlorn hope of popularity : he was happily rewarded by the 
most fortunate success in all his measures, and by the applause 
of the whole country. 

Meanwhile, the public attention was awakened by the alarm- 
ing aspect of affairs to the southward. 

General Jackson, after concluding the treaty recounted in a 
former chapter with the main body of the Creeks, residing in 
Alabama and Georgia, had transferred his head quarters to 
Mobile. Here, he received certain information that three Brit- 
ish ships of war had arrived at Pensacola, in West Florida, then 
a possession belonging to the Spanish nation, with whom we 
were at peace, and had landed three hundred soldiers, and a large 
quantity of ammunition and guns for arming the Indians, with 
the view of making an assault upon Fort Bowyer, a battery 
situated on Mobile Point and commanding the entrance to Mo- 
bile Bay. He also learnt that the fleet of admiral Cochrane 
had been reinforced at Bermuda, and that thirteen ships of the 
line, with transports having ten thousand troops on board, for 
the purpose of invading some of the southern states, were daily 
expected. On the receipt of this intelligence, he immediately 
wrote to the governor of Tennessee, calling for the whole 
quota of militia from that state. 

The three vessels at Pensacola, having been joined by an- 
other vessel, and having taken the troops on board, sailed from 
thence, and appeared, on the 15th of September, off* Mobile 
Point. The naval force, mounting in all ninety guns, was 
commanded by captain Percy : the land troops, consisting of 
one hundred and ten marines, two hundred Creeks headed by 



286 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Attack on Fort Bowyer repulsed Inroad into Florida by General Jackson. 

captain Woodbine, and twenty artillerists, with a battery of one 
twelve-pounder and a howitzer, were under the command of the 
infamous colonel NichoUs. On the same day, at four o'clock 
in the afternoon, the troops having been landed, the attack com- 
menced by a bombardment from the vessels, and a cannonade 
from the two pieces of artillery , which had been planted at a small 
distance from, and in the rear of, the fort. Fort Bowyer mounted 
twenty pieces of cannon, and was commanded by major Law- 
rence, of the Second regiment of infantry, with one hundred and 
twenty men under him. With this disproportionate force, he 
soon drove the enemy's troops from their position on shore, by 
discharges of grape and canister ; and, after a cannonade of three 
hours, compelled the vessels to retire, with great loss. Captain 
Percy's ship, carrying twenty-two thirty-two-pounders, was 
driven on shore within six hundred yards of the battery, where 
she suffered so severely, that those on board were obliged to set 
her on fire. Of her crew, originally one hundred and seventy, 
only twenty effected their escape. The other ships, besides 
being considerably injured, lost eighty-live men in killed and 
wounded, and returned to Pensacola to repair their damage ; 
while the troops retreated to the same place by land. They 
were again welcomed by the governor, in direct violation of the 
treaty between Spain and the United States. 

General Jackson, now a major-general in the army, and 
commander of the southwestern military district of the United 
States, having in vain remonstrated with the governor of Pen- 
sacola on his reprehensible conduct in harbouring and assisting 
our enemies, determined to seek redress, without waiting for 
authority from the Amel'ican government. Having received a 
reinforcement of two thousand Tennessee militia and some 
Choctaw Indians, he advanced to Pensacola. On the 6th of 
November, he reached the neighbourhood of that post, and im- 
mediately sent major Pierre with a fiag to the governor. This 
officer, however, was fired upon from the fort, and obliged to 
return, without communicating the object of his mission. Jack- 
son then reconnoitered the fort, and finding it defended both by 
British and Spaniards, made arrangements for storming the town 
the next day. The troops were put in motion at daylight. They 
had encamped to the west of the town during the night ; and in 
order to induce the enemy to suppose that the attack would be 
made from that quarter, the general caused part of the mounted 
men to show themselves on the w^est, whilst with the great 
body of the troops he passed undiscovered, in the rear of the 
fort, to the east of the town. Plis whole force became visible 
when a mile distant, and advanced firmly to the town, although 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 287 

Jackson captures Pensacola Invasion of Louisiana meditated by the British. 

there were seven British armed vessels on their left, a stronn- 
fort ready to assail them on the right, and batteries of heavy 
cannon in front. On entering the town, a battery of two can- 
nons, loaded with ball and grape, was opened on the central 
column, composed of regulars, and a shower of musketry poured 
from the houses and gardens. This battery was soon carried, 
and the musketry were silenced. The governor now made his 
appearance with a flag, and offering to surrender the town and 
fort unconditionally, begged for mercy. This was granted, 
and protection given to the persons and property of the inhab- 
itants. The commandant of the fort, nevertheless, kept the 
Americans out of possession until midnight ; and evacuated it 
just as they were preparing to make a furious assault. On the 
8th, the British withdrew with their shipping ; and Jackson, 
having accomplished his purpose, set out, on the 9th, on his 
return to Mobile. 

By the 1st of September it was reduced to a certainty, that, 
notwithstanding the negotiations pending between the United 
States and Great Britain at Ghent, formidable preparations were 
making for an invasion of Louisiana. Governor Claiborne 
therefore ordered the two divisions of the militia of that state, 
the first under general Villere and the second under general 
Thomas, to hold themselves in readiness to march at a mo- 
ment's warning. He also issued an animating address, calling 
on the inhabitants to turn out en masse, for the defence of their 
families and homes. On the 16th of September, a number of 
the citizens convened, in order to co-operate with the civil 
authorities in devising measures for the defence of the country. 
The late Edward Livingston, since so distinguished as a crimi- 
nal jurist, was chosen president of the meeting. Afler an elo- 
quent speech, he proposed a spirited resolution, going to repel 
the calumnious insinuation that the citizens of New Orleans 
were disaffected to the American government, and manifesting, 
as far as language could do, their determination to oppose the 
enemy. This resolution was adopted by the meeting unani- 
mously, and, when made public, was received with demonstra- 
tions of universal applause. 

Thus far, the war had been felt in this portion of the union 
only in its effects on" commercial and agricultural property. 
In consequence of the suppression of trade and the low price 
of all kinds of produce, the people had suffered much. The 
banks had stopped payment, and distresses of every kind had 
begun to be felt. The great mass of the planters of Louisiana, 
(at least those of French origin) of an amiable and gentle dis- 
position, had paid but little attention to the war ; and, outside 



288 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Preparations for Resistance Confidpnce inspired jy Jackson's Presence. 

of the city of New Orleans, the mihtia could scarcely be said 
to be organized, much less disciplined or armed. Nothing 
short of an actual invasion could rouse them. In the city the 
case was different. From the commencement of the war, as 
if sensible of the feeble help which they could expect from the 
general government, the inhabitants had manifested the greatest 
alacrity in qualifying themselves for taking the field against 
an invader. Every man, capable of bearing arms, had become 
a soldier, and perhaps in no other city of the country were 
there such frequent and elegant displays of well disciplined 
and well dressed volunteer companies. The aptitude of French- 
men for the profession of arms was now shown to have been 
inherited by their descendants ; and not a few of the natives 
of France, men who had served in her armies, were inter- 
mingled with them. The free people of colour, a numerous 
class, were permitted, as a privilege, to form volunteer compa- 
nies and wear uniform : some of these were natives, but the 
greater part were refugees from the island of St. Domingo. 
The dissensions, hitherto of frequent occurrence, between what 
were termed the American and French inhabitants, were healed 
by a union of dislike to the English, and of hearty determina- 
tion to frustrate their designs. 

The chief dependence of the inhabitants of New Orleans for 
safety, was in the nature of the surrounding country, and its 
exceeding difficulty of access to an enemy invading by sea. 
In front is a shallow coast, and the principal entrance is a river, 
which, after crossing the bar, is narrow, deep and rapid, and of 
a course so winding that it was easy to fortify it. To the west 
are impassable swamps, and on the east, the low marshy coasts 
can be approached only through a shallow lake. The most 
natural defence of such a country, would be gun-boats, or ves- 
sels drawing little water and capable of being easily transferred 
from place to place. Great uneasiness, however, prevailed, on 
account of the inadequacy of the means for opposing the pow- 
erful invading force which was expected. Louisiana, like other 
parts of the union, had been left by the administration (which 
had neither money nor men to send) to rely chiefly on itself. 
It was certainly, as it respected men, arms and military works, 
in a most defenceless condition. The legislature had been con- 
vened, and was in session ; but instead of the active provision 
of means of resistance, much of its time was spent in idle dis- 
cussion. 

In times of general alarm and danger, nothing is of so much 
importance, as a man at the head of affairs possessed of firm- 
ness and decision of character. Happily, at this critical junc- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 289 

British Fleet arrives off tlie Coast Capture of the American Gun-Boats. 

ture, there was found such an one in general Jackson. This 
officer hastened his departure from Mobile, on hearing of the 
danger of New Orleans, and arrived there on the 2d of De- 
cember. His presence was instantly felt in the confidence 
which it inspired, and the unanimity and alacrity with which 
all seconded every disposition and measure which he directed. 
He visited in person the points at which it was necessary to 
erect works. All the inlets, or bayous, from the Atchafalaya 
river to the Chef Menteur pass or channel, were ordered to 
be obstructed. The banks of the Mississippi were fortified by 
his direction, in such a manner as to prevent any of the enemy's 
vessels from ascending ; and a battery was erected on the Chef 
Menteur, so as to oppose the passage of the enemy in that 
direction. He then called on the legislature to furnish him the 
means of expediting the different works which he had marked 
out — requisitions which met with prompt compliance. About 
one thousand regulars were stationed at New Orleans, which, 
together with the Tennessee militia under generals Coffee and 
Carrol, were distributed at the most vulnerable points. In anti- 
cipation of the approaching danger, military supplies had been 
forwarded by the Ohio river ; and the governors of Tennessee 
and Kentucky had been called upon for a considerable force, to 
be sent with all possible expedition to Louisiana. 

On the 9th of December, certain intelligence was received 
that the British fleet, consisting of at least sixty sail, was off 
the coast to the east of the Mississippi. Commodore Patterson, 
commander of the naval station, immediately despatched a flo- 
tilla of five gun-boats, under the command of lieutenant Thomas 
Ap Catesby Jones, to watch the motions of the enemy. They 
were discovered in such force off Cat Island, at the entrance of 
Lake Borgne, that the lieutenant determined to make sail for 
the passes into Lake Pontchartrain, in order to oppose the en- 
trance of the British. The Sea Horse, sailing-master Johnson, 
9.fter a gallant resistance, was captured in the Bay of St. Louis. 
On the 14th, the gun-boats, while becalmed, were attacked by 
nearly forty barges, carrying twelve hundred men, and, afler a 
contest of an hour with so overwhelming a force, they surren- 
dered. The loss of the Americans was forty killed and wounded : 
among the latter lieutenant Spidden, who lost an arm ; and 
lieutenants Jones and M'Keever. The loss of the enemy was 
estimated at three hundred men. 

The destruction of the gun-boats now placed it in the power 
of the enemy to choose his point of attack, and, at the same 
time, in a great measure deprived the Americans of the means 
of watching his motions. The commander-in-chief ordered the 



290 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Martial Law proclaimed by General Jackson The Pirate Lafitte. 

battalion of men of colour, under major Lacoste, together with 
the Feliciana dragoons, to take post on the Chef Menteur, in 
order to cover the Gentilly road, which leads from thence to the 
city, and also to defend the passage from Lake Borgne into 
Lake Pontchartrain ; while captain Newman, of the artillery, 
who commanded the fort at the Rigolets, the second and only 
other channel between these two lakes, was ordered to defend 
that place to the last extremity. Other measures were rapidly 
adopted. Colonel Fortier, one of the principal merchants of the 
city, who had the superintendence of the volunteers composed 
of the men of colour, formed a second battalion, which was 
placed under the command of major Daquin. By means of 
bounties, a number of persons were induced to serve on board 
the schooner Caroline and the brig Louisiana ; and thus the 
places of the sailors captured by the British were supplied. 
On the 18th, the commander-in-chief reviewed the city regi- 
ments, and was particularly gratified with the appearance of 
the uniform companies commanded by major Plauche. The 
battalion of the latter, with a company of light artillery under 
lieutenant Wagner, was ordered to Fort St. John, for the protec- 
tion of the bayou of that name, through which access could be 
gained from Lake Pontchartrain into the upper part of the city 
of New Orleans, or across to the Mississippi. An embargo for 
three days was decreed by the legislature ; a number of persons 
confined in the prisons were liberated on condition of serving 
in the ranks ; and at length the commander-in-chief conceived 
it indispensable, for the safety of the country, to proclaim mar- 
tial law, a measure which perhaps was justifiable in the cir- 
cumstances. About this time Lafitte and his Baratarians — a 
horde of smugglers and pirates, who had carried on their illegal 
operations from an almost inaccessible island in the lake of that 
name — availed themselves of the amnesty and pardon offered 
them by governor Claiborne on condition that they would come 
forward and aid in the defence of the country ; and joined the 
American forces. 

All the principal bayous which communicate with Lake 
Pontchartrain, and intersect the narrow strip of land between 
the Mississippi and the swamps, had been obstructed. There 
was, however, a channel connected with Lake Borgne, called 
the Bayou Bienvenu, and having its head near the plantation 
of general Villere, seven miles below the city. Although it 
was not believed that this pass, which was known to few ex- 
cept fishermen, afforded much facility for the approach of an 
invading army, general Jackson gave orders that it should be 
obstructed and guarded. A small force was accordingly station- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 291 



Landing of the British Army Battle of ihe 23d of December. 



ed near its entrance into the lake, at the cabins of some fish- 
ermen, who, as afterwards appeared, were in the employment 
of the British ; but its obstruction was neglected or forgotten. 
On the 22d, guided by these fishermen, a division of the ene- 
my under general Keane, which had been transported thither 
in boats, came suddenly upon the American guard, and took 
them prisoners. By four o'clock in the morning of the 23d, 
they reached the commencement of Villere's canal, near the 
head of the bayou. There they disembarked and rested some 
hours ; after which, again proceeding, by two o'clock, P. M., 
they reached the bank of the Mississippi. General Villere's 
house was immediately surrounded, as was also that of his 
neighbour, colonel La Ronde ; but this officer, as well as major 
Villere, was so fortunate as to effect his escape, and hastened 
to head quarters, to communicate intelligence of the approach 
of the enemy. 

The commander-in-chief, on receiving this information, 
instantly resolved on the only course to be pursued, which 
was, without the loss of a moment's time, to attack the enemy. 
In one hour's time. Coffee's riflemen, stationed above the city, 
were at the place of rendezvous, the battalion of major Plauche 
had arrived from the bayou, and the regulars and city volunteers 
were ready to march. By six o'clock in the evening, the dif- 
ferent corps were united on Rodrigue's canal, six miles below 
the city. The schooner Caroline, captain Henley, bearing 
the broad pendant of commodore Patterson, at the same time 
dropped down the river ; and orders were given to lieutenant- 
commandant Thompson to follow with the Louisiana. General 
Coffee's command, together with captain Beale's riflemen, was 
placed on the extreme left, towards the woods ; the city volun- 
teers and the men of colour, under Plauche and Daquin, both 
commanded by colonel Ross, were stationed in the centre ; and 
to the right, the two regiments of regulars, the Seventh and 
Forty-fourth ; while the artillery and marines, under colonel 
M'Rea, occupied the road. The whole force scarcely exceed- 
ed two thousand men. The British troops, which amounted 
to three thousand men, on their arrival at the Mississippi, in- 
stead of pushing directly towards the city, had bivouacked, with 
their ris-ht restinf^ on a wood and their left on the river, in the 
full conviction that the most difficult part of the enterprise was 
already achieved. Coftee was ordered to turn their right and 
attack them in the rear ; while general Jackson in person, with 
the main body of the troops, assailed them in front and on their 
left : a fire from the Caroline was to be the signal of attack. At 
half past seven o'clock, night having already set in, the action 



292 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Results of the Battle Jackson encamps, and fortifies himself. 

commenced by a raking broadside from the schooner, which 
was directed by the light of the enemy's fires, and afforded the 
first intimation of the approach of the Americans. Coffee's 
men, with their usual impetuosity, now rushed to the attack, and 
entered the British camp ; while the troops in front and on the 
right, under the immediate command of general Jackson, ad- 
vanced with equal ardour. 

The enemy were taken by surprise, and although they soon 
extinguished their fires and formed, yet order was not restored 
before several hundreds of them had been killed or wounded. 
A thick fog, which arose shortly afterward, and a misunder- 
standing of instructions by one of the principal officers, produc- 
ing some confusion in the American ranks, Jackson called off his 
troops, and lay on the field that night. At four of the following 
morning, he fell back to a position about two miles nearer the 
city, where the swamp and the Mississippi approached nearest 
to each other, and where, therefore, his line of defence would 
be the shortest and most tenable. In his front was a mill-race 
which was supplied with water from the river. The American 
loss in this battle was twenty-four killed, among whom was 
colonel Lauderdale of Tennessee, a brave soldier, who fell much 
lamented ; one hundred and fifteen wounded, and seventy-four 
prisoners, of whom were many of the principal inhabitants of the 
city. That of the British was estimated at four hundred in killed, 
wounded, and missing. If it was the object of the American 
general to teach his adversaries caution, and thus retard their 
advance, he fully succeeded ; for during four days, they kept 
within their intrenchments, contenting themselves with active 
preparatory occupations. They were probably influenced 
somewhat to suspend the immediate execution of their intended 
movement on New Orleans, by the false accounts given by 
their prisoners, who stated that the American force umounted 
to fifteen thousand men. 

Meanwhile general Jackson set to work immediately to 
fortify his position. This he effected by the construction of 
a simple breastwork, extending from the river to the swamp, 
with a ditch (the mill-race above mentioned) in front. To ex- 
pedite these works, and to supply the place of earth, of which 
there was great scarcity owing to the swampy character of the 
ground, an extraordinary expedient was adopted. Bales of cot- 
ton, brought from New Orleans, were placed upon the line, 
and covered with earth ; and of such materials was the rampart 
formed. As the enemy were still annoyed by the Caroline and 
the Louisiana, the latter having joined the former, and both 
being prevented from escaping up the river by a strong wind, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 293 

Affairs of the 28th of December, and of the 1st of January, 1815. 

batteries were constructed to attack them. From these, on the 
27th, hot shot were thrown, by which the Caroline was set on 
fire. She blew up about an hour after she had been abandoned 
by her crew. The Louisiana next sustained the fire of their 
batteries, until she was in imminent danger of sharing the fate 
of the Caroline. In losing her, the whole co-operative naval 
force would have been lost ; but her commander, lieutenant 
Thompson, after encountering many obstacles, finally suc- 
ceeded in extricating her from her perilous situation, and an- 
choring her on the right flank of general Jackson's position. 
After the destruction of the Caroline, sir Edward Packenham, 
the British commander-in-chief, having landed the main body 
of his army and a sufficient train of artillery, superintended, in 
person, the arrangements for attacking the American intrench- 
ments. On the 28th, he advanced up the levee, as the narrow 
strip between the river and the swamp is called, with the in- 
tention of driving Jackson into the city ; and at the distance of 
half a mile commenced the attack with rockets, bombs, and 
cannon. When he came within reach, the Louisiana, and the 
batteries on the American works, opened a fire on him which 
was very destructive. At the end of seven hours, during which 
he made no attempt at a nearer approach to the American line, 
the British general relinquished the attack, and retired. The 
loss of the Americans was seven killed and eight wounded, 
among the former colonel Henderson of Tennessee ; that of the 
British was computed at a total of one hundred and twenty. 

On the morning of the 1st of January, 1815, sir Edward 
Packenham was discovered to have constructed batteries near 
the American works, and at daylight commenced a heavy fire 
from them, which was well returned by Jackson. A bold attempt 
was, at the same time, made to turn the left of the Americans ; 
but in this the enemy were completely repulsed. About three 
o'clock in the afternoon, the fire of the British was silenced ; 
and, abandoning the batteries, their army returned to the camp. 
The loss of the Americans, on this occasion, was eleven killed 
and twenty-three wounded. On the 4th, general Jackson was 
joined by two thousand five hundred Kentuckians, under general 
Adair; and on the 6th, the British were reinforced by general 
Lambert, at the head of a reserve of four thousand men. The 
British force now amounted to little short of fifteen thousand 
of the finest troops ; that of the Americans to about six thousand, 
chiefly untried militia, a considerable portion unarmed, and 
from the haste of their departure, badly provided with clothmg. 
To supply those who were without weapons, all the private 
arms which the inhabitants of New Orleans possessed, were 



294 BRACKENRIDGE'S 

Position of the American Army Memorable Battle of the 8th of January. 

collected ; and the ladies occupied themselves continually in 
making clothing for those who were in want of it. The mayor 
of the city, Mr. Girod, was particularly active at this trying 
moment. 

The British general now prepared for a serious attempt on 
the American works. With great • labour he had completed, 
on the 7th, a water communication from the swamp to the 
Mississippi, by widening and deepening the canal on which 
the troops had originally effected their disembarkation. He 
was thus enabled to transport a number of his boats to the 
river. It was his intention to make a simultaneous attack on 
the main force of general Jackson on the left bank, and, cross- 
ing the river, on the troops and fortifications which defended 
the right bank. The works of the American general on the 
left bank of the river were by this time completed. His 
front was a breastwork of about a mile long, extending from 
the river into the swamp, till it became impassable, and for 
the last two hundred yards taking a turn to the left. The whole 
was defended by upwards of three thousand infantry and artil- 
lerists. The ditch contained five feet water ; and the ground in 
front, having been flooded by water introduced from the river and 
by frequent rains, was slippery and muddy. Eight distinct bat- 
teries were judiciously disposed, mounting in all tvvelve guns 
of different calibres. On the opposite side of the river, there 
was a strong battery of fifteen guns, and the intrenchments 
which had been erected were occupied by general Morgan, 
with some Louisiana militia, and a strong detachment of Ken- 
tucky troops. 

On the memorable morning of the 8th of January, general 
Packenham, having detached colonel Thornton with at least 
five hundred men, to attack the works on the right bank of the 
river, moved with his whole force, in two columns commanded 
by major-generals Gibbs and Keane. The right and principal 
division, under the former of these officers, was to attack the 
centre of the works. The British deliberately advanced to the 
assault in solid columns, over the even plain in front of the 
American intrenchments, the men carrying, besides their mus- 
kets, fascines made of sugar cane, and some of them ladders. 
A dead silence prevailed until they approached within reach 
of the batteries, when an incessant and destructive cannonade 
commenced. Notwithstanding this, they continued to advance 
in tolerable order, closing up the ranks as fast as they were 
opened by the fire of the Americans, until they came within 
reach of the musketry and rifles, when such dreadful havock 
was produced, that they were instantly thrown into the utmost 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 295 

Battle of the 8th of January Death of General Packenhara. 

confusion. Never was there so tremendous a fire as that 
kept up from the American lines. It was a continued stream ; 
those behind, loading for the men in front, and enabling them to 
fire with scarcely an intermission. The British columns were 
literally swept away : hundreds fell at every discharge. Broken, 
dispersed, disheartened, they retreated. The most active efforts 
were made to rally them. General Packenham was killed in 
front of his troops, animating them by his presence and example ; 
and probably not less than a thousand men, dead and wounded, 
were lying beside him. Generals Gibbs and Keane succeeded 
in bringing them up again ; but the second approach was more 
fatal than the first. The continued roll of the American fire re- 
sembled peals of thunder ; it was such as no troops could with- 
stand. The advancing columns again broke ; a few platoons 
reaching the edge of the ditch, only to meet certain destruction. 
An unavailing attempt was made to lead them to the attack a 
third time by their officers, whose gallantry, on this occasion, 
deserved a better fate, in a better cause. Generals Gibbs and 
Keane were carried from the field, the latter severely, the for- 
mer mortally wounded. The narrow field of strife between 
the British and the American lines was strewed with dead. 
So dreadful a carnage, considering the length of time and the 
numbers engaged, has seldom been recorded : two thousand, 
at the lowest estimate, pressed the earth, besides such of the 
wounded as were not able to escape. The loss of the Ameri- 
cans did not exceed seven killed, and six wounded. Military 
annals do not furnish a more extraordinary instance of disparity 
in the slain, between the victors and vanquished. The de- 
cided advantage of the Americans, which may be acknow- 
ledged without detracting from their praise, gave to the conduct 
of the enemy more of the character of madness than of valour. 
By the fall of General Packenham, the command devolved ou 
general Lambert, who was the only general officer left upon the 
field, and to whom had been consigned the charge of the re- 
serve. He met the discomfited troops in their flight, and, being 
unable to restore the fortune of the day, withdrew them from 
the reach of the guns, and finally from the field of battle. 

In the meantime, the detachment under colonel Thornton 
succeeded in landing on the right bank of the river, and imme- 
diately attacked the intrenchments of general Morgan. The 
American right, being outflanked, abandoned its position. The 
led maintained its ground for some time ; but, finding itself 
deserted by the right and outnumbered by the enemy, spiked 
its guns, and also retired. In the course of the contest, colonel 
Thornton was severely wounded, and the command of the Bri- 



296 BRACKENRIDGE'S 



Louisiana evacuated by the British Bombardment of Fort St. Phillip. 

tish devolved on colonel Gubbins= As soon as these disasters 
were made known to general Jackson, he prepared to throw 
reinforcements across the river, to dislodge the enemy. This 
measure was rendered unnecessary, however, by their voluntary 
retreat across the river, in obedience to the order of general 
Lambert. 

On the 9th, general Lambert determined to relinquish the 
hopeless enterprise ; and immediately commenced the necessary 
preparations, which were conducted with great secrecy. It was 
not until the night of the 18th, however, that the British camp 
was entirely evacuated. From the nature of the country, and 
the redoubts which the enemy had erected to cover their retreat, 
it was deemed unadvisable to pursue them. They left eight o^ 
their wounded, and fourteen pieces of artillery, behind them. 
Returning by the same route along which so short a time 
before they had advanced with hope and confidence, they reach- 
ed the fleet without annoyance. Their loss in this fatal expe- 
dition was immense. Besides their generals and a number of 
valuable officers, their force was diminished by at least three 
thousand men. It was undertaken too at a time when peace, 
unknown to them, had been actually concluded ; and its suc- 
cessful issue therefore could have led to no permanent results. 

Commodore Patterson despatched five boats, under Mr. 
Shields, purser on the New Orleans station, in order to annoy 
the retreat of the British fleet. This active and spirited offi- 
cer succeeded in capturing several boats and taking a number 
of prisoners. 

The British fleet on the coast was not inactive during these 
operations. It was intended that a squadron should enter the 
Mississippi, and, reducing the works at Fort St. Philip, ascend 
the river, and co-operate in the attack on New Orleans. The 
bombardment of the fort commenced on the 11th of January, 
and was continued with more or less activity for eight days. 
At the end of this time, the enemy, finding they had made no 
serious impression, dropped down the river, and put to sea. 
The fort was garrisoned and bravely maintained by three hun- 
dred and sixty-six men under the command of major Overton. 

Great rejoicing took place throughout the United States, and 
especially in New Orleans, in consequence of these events ; and 
every honour was bestowed upon the commander-in-chief. It is 
to be regretted, however, that some unpleasant occurrences (tho 
merit of which it is not within the plan of this work to discuss) 
tended to alloy the brilliancy of success. Whether these are 
to be ascribed to the use, or abuse of martial law, we will leave 
to others to determine. - 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 297 

. — — t 

Depredations of Admiral Cockburn Peace .... Terms of the Treaty. 

While these bloody affairs transpired an the Mississippi, 
admiral Cockburn was pursuing a more lucrative and less dan- 
gerous warfare along the coast of the Carolinas and Georgia. 
He took possession of Cumberland island, and menacing 
Charleston and Savannah, sent out detachments which met 
with various success ; but his chief and more interesting occu- 
pation was plundering the inhabitants of the products of the 
soil, and of their merchandize and household furniture. The 
letters of some of his officers to their companions, which were 
intercepted, displayed the spirit of petty and dishonourable 
cupidity and plunder by which these gentlemen were actuated. 
The most usual topics of these epistles were the amount and 
species of plunder which they procured ; and desks, looking- 
glasses, bureaus and cotton bales were exultingly enumerated^ 
as if they had been the ultimate and glorious end of war. 

The momentous intelligence of the defeat of the British, at 
New Orleans, had scarcely ceased to operate upon the feelings 
of the people of the United States, when they received the 
welcome news of peace. If the declaration of war gave rise, 
at the time, to partial rejoicing, the announcement of its ter- 
mination was celebrated with a pleasure that was universal. 
Peace was proclaimed by the president on the 18th of Febru- 
ary 1815 ; and not long afterwards, a day of thanksgiving to 
the Almighty was set apart throughout the nation, by the same 
authority, for its blessed restoration. 

The treaty was concluded on the 24th of December 1814, at 
Ghent, by lord Gambier, Henry Goulburn and William Adams, 
on the part of Great Britain ; and by JohnQuincy Adams, James 
A. Bayard, Henry Clay, Jonathan Russel and Albert Gallatin, 
on behalf of the United States. It stipulated a mutual restora- 
tion of all places and possessions taken during the war, or which 
might be taken after the signing of the treaty. It further de- 
clared that all captures at sea should be relinquished, if made 
twelve days thereafter, in all parts of the American coast from 
the twenty-third to the fiftieth degree of north latitude, as far 
east as thirty-six degrees of longitude west from Greenwich ; 
thirty days thereafter, in all other parts of the Atlantic north of 
the equator; the same time, for the British and Irish Channels, 
the Gulf of Mexico, and the West Indies ; forty days, for the 
North Seas, the Baltic, and all parts of the Mediterranean ; 
sixty days, for the Atlantic Ocean, south of the equator, as far 
as the Cape of Good Hope ; ninety days, for every other part of 
the world south of the equator ; and one hundred and twenty 
days, for all other parts without exception. It was further 
agreed that the parties should mutually put a stop to Indian 



298 BRACKENRIDGE'S HISTORY OF TflE WAR. 

Terms of the Treaty of Peace Conclusion. 

nostilities, and use their best endeavours to extinguish the traffic 
in slaves. But much the greater part of the treaty related to 
the adjustment of the boundaries between the British posses- 
sions and those of the United States, which had been imperfectly- 
adjusted by the treaty of 1783. The subjects of impressment, 
of paper blockade and of orders in council, and the rights of 
the neutral flag, were passed over without notice. 

Thus terminated an eventful war of two years and eight 
months, or, as it is commonly called, three years. It is related 
of the wise Franklin, that, hearing some one term our first 
war with Great Britain, the war of independence, he reproved 
him : " Sir," said he, " you mean of the revolution ; the war 
of independence is yet to come." That war is now over ; 
and every hope on the part of Great Britain to bring us back to 
the state of colonies, has fled for ever. By the seizure, during 
peace, of a thousand of our merchantmen and of seven thou- 
sand of our fellow citizens, she drove us into a war with her ; 
whereby two thousand of her merchantmen were lost, and many 
millions added to the sum of her already immense national debt. 
Still more : the frequent captures of her public vessels, by the 
ships of our small but gallant navy, have established the painful 
truth, that she has an equal on the ocean. We have at last in- 
duced her to treat us with respect ; and, in whatever portion 
of the globe his fortune may place him, an American may now 
own his country with pride. We have no wish to be otherwise 
than on terms of friendship with Great Britain. We have a 
common origin, a common language, and institutions nearly 
similar ; and should she ever need a friend, notwithstanding 
the past, she will find one, sincere and zealous, in the United 
States of North America. 

To us the war is pregnant with important lessons. We 
nave acquired a knowledge of our weakness and of our 
strength. We have been taught that our best policy is hon- 
ourable peace, and the preference, in our intercourse with all 
nations, of justice to profit. We have been taught, and the 
lesson is worth the sum we paid for the war, that we are weak 
jn conquest, but sufficiently strong for defence. 



THE END. 



VALUABLE SCHOOL BOOKS 

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Kay 4" Brother^ Philadelphia ; and C. H. Kay <f Co., Pittsburgh. 



BRACKENRIDGE'S HISTORY OF 
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299 



PROGRESSIVE 

FRENCH SCHOOL SERIES. 

A Complete Course of Study of the French Language, as it is Read, Written, and Spoken. 
In 6 volumes, royal 18mo, beautifully printed, and bound to match. 



I. & II. 

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III. &, IV. 

COLLOT'S PRONOUNCING AND 
INTERLINEAR FRENCH READER. 
In 2 vols., viz. : 

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Lessons selected from the Works of the 
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VOL. n. Collot's Interlinear French 
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V. &, VI. 

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PUBLISHED BY 

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AND FO^ SAL^ BY ALL BOOKSELLBRS. 

300 
A/l AV C\ in -irk A /\ 



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